A square x by x, four strips x by 2, and four small squares 2 by 2 form one larger square. What is the side length of the larger square?

Correct answer: x+4 — x+4

The direct answer is B: x+4. Imagine the central x by x square. Along each side, the arrangement adds two strips of width 2, one contribution on each relevant side, so the total increase in side length is 2+2=4. Thus the outside square has side x+4. Its area would be (x+4)²=x²+8x+16: the x² part is the central square, the four x by 2 strips together contribute 8x, and the four 2 by 2 corner squares together contribute 16. A would add only one width-2 contribution and therefore gives too small a side. C incorrectly doubles x and adds 2. D is an area expression, not a side length. Memory cue: add lengths along one outer edge; do not add areas when the question asks for a side.