A square is 3 inches by 3 inches. What is its area
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The area of a square can be calculated using the formula:
[
\text{Area} = \text{side}^2
]
where “side” refers to the length of one side of the square. In this case, the side length of the square is given as 3 inches. Therefore, to find the area, you square the side length:
[
\text{Area} = 3^2 = 9 \, \text{square inches}
]
Thus, the area of the square is 9 square inches.
Explanation:
A square is a special type of rectangle in which all four sides are equal in length. The area of any rectangle is calculated by multiplying its length by its width. However, in the case of a square, since all four sides are of equal length, we can simplify this calculation by squaring the length of one side.
For example, if a square has a side length of (s), its area is given by:
[
\text{Area} = s \times s = s^2
]
This relationship is important because it reflects the unique property of squares: all sides are congruent (the same length), so only one measurement (the side length) is needed to determine the area.
In our case, the square has a side length of 3 inches. By applying the formula, we get:
[
\text{Area} = 3^2 = 9 \, \text{square inches}
]
This means that the total amount of space enclosed within the square is 9 square inches. It is essential to note that square units are used to measure area. Therefore, the correct unit of measurement for the area of the square is “square inches,” not just inches, since area measures two-dimensional space.
In conclusion, the area of a square with a side length of 3 inches is 9 square inches.