If the length of each side of a square is increased by 1 cm, the area will be increased by 17 cm. What is the area of the original square?

If the length of each side of a square is increased by 1 cm, the area will be increased by 17 cm. What is the area of the original square?

Let the original side length be x cm
Then (x + 1) ² - X & #178; = 17
x²+2x+1-x²=17
2x=16
x=8
So the original side length is 8 cm