Set up an equation and solve the problem. The difference of the areas of two squares is 288 square inches. Each side of the larger square is 3 times the length of a side of the smaller square. Find the length of a side of the larger square.
A) 6 in.
B) 18 in.
C) 3 in.
D) 9 in.
E) none of these

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Let s be the length of the side of the smaller square. Then the length of the side of the larger square is 3s. The area of the smaller square is s^2 and the area of the larger square is (3s)^2 = 9s^2.

We are told that the difference in area is 288:
9s^2 - s^2 = 288
8s^2 = 288
s^2 = 36
s = 6

So the length of the side of the larger square is 3s = 3(6) = 18 inches. Therefore, the answer is B, 18 in.

Set Up an Equation and Solve the Problem