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

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

Let the original length of the square be a
(a+1)(a+1)=17+a^2
2a=16
a=8
So the original square area = 8x8 = 64 square centimeters