Each side of a square is lengthened by 2 inches. the area of the new, larger square is 121 square inches. find the length of a side of the original square.

Let the original side length be x. Then (x+2) ^ (in) ^2 = 121 sq in.

Thus, x^2 + 4x + 4 = 121;

x^2 + 4x - 117 = 0 = (x-13) (x+9) = 0. Then x = 13 and x = - 9.

We need to discard the negative result (-9).

The side of the original square is 9 inches. (answer)

Check: does (9+2) ^2 = 121? Does 11^2 = 121? YES.