Question

A square is 12 inches on each side. A small square, x inches on each side, is cut out from each corner of the original square. Represent the area of the remaining portion of the square in the form of a polynomial function A(x).

Answer 1

If x is cut off from each side of the square, this means that the dimension of the new square is equal to 12-2x. Then, we know that the area of the square is determined by squaring its side such that,
                            A = (12 - 2x)²
Simplifying the equation, 
                            A(x) = 144 - 48x - 4x²