Tasha is planning an expansion of a square flower garden in a city park. If each side of the original garden is increased by 8 m, the new total area of the garden will be 196 m2. Find the length of each side of the original garden.
Let x be the length of each side of the original garden.
The original area of the garden is x^2.
If each side of the original garden is increased by 8 m, the new length of each side is x+8.
The new area of the garden is (x+8)^2.
According to the problem, (x+8)^2=196.
Expanding the equation, we get x^2+16x+64=196.
Subtracting 196 from both sides, we get x^2+16x-132=0.
Factoring the equation, we get (x-6)(x+22)=0.
Setting each factor to zero, we find that x-6=0 or x+22=0.
Thus, x=6 or x=-22.
Since a negative side length is not possible, the length of each side of the original garden is 6 m. Answer: \boxed{6}.