A community group is planning the expansion of a square flower garden in a city park. If each side of the original garden is increased by 9 meters, the new total area of the garden will be 169 square meters. Find the length of each side of the original garden.
A. 9 m
B. 13 m
C. 2 m
D. 4 m
Let x be the length of each side of the original garden. Then the area of the original garden is x^2.
When each side is increased by 9 meters, the new length of each side is x+9, and the new area is (x+9)^2.
We are told that the new total area is 169 square meters:
(x+9)^2 = 169
Taking the square root of both sides:
x+9 = 13
Subtracting 9 from both sides:
x = 4
Therefore, the length of each side of the original garden is 4 meters.
Answer: D. 4 m.