A 2 inch by 2 inch square has its area increased by 21 square inches producing a new square. How many inches long is a side of the new square?

4 answers

new square:
(x+2)(x+2)

(x+2)^2 - 4 = 21
x^2 + 4x +4 - 4 - 21 = 0
x^2 + 4x - 21 = 0
(x+7)(x-3) = 0
x = -7 or x = 3, x = -7 making no sense

new square = 2+3 or 5 units long

check:
old square = 2x2 = 4
new square = 5x5 = 25
increase is 25-4 = 21 , as given
All is good
thank you and I appreciate the help with my math homework
I think that the answer would be 5 because it is √25.
the answer is 5