Area of a Square

For a shape to be classified as a square, all sides have to be equal. Meaning, in order to find the total area of the square you simply multiple one of the sides by itself, or as we have shown here, you are able to square one side to find the total area.

1) Imagine a farmer who wants to determine how much seed to purchase for planting. If the farm is square-shaped and each side is 100 meters long, the area of the farm can be calculated by squaring the length of one side.

Area = side × side Area = 100 meters × 100 meters Area = 10,000 square meters

Knowing the area helps the farmer decide how much seed is needed, as seed packages often specify coverage in square meters. This calculation ensures the farmer buys the correct amount, avoiding waste or shortage.

2) Suppose you plan to replace the carpet in your living room and need to know how much material to buy.

First, you measure the length and width of the room. Let's say the room is rectangular and measures 5 meters by 4 meters. To find the area, you multiply the length by the width:

Area = length × width Area = 5 meters × 4 meters Area = 20 square meters

Knowing the area of the room is crucial when purchasing the new carpet because carpet is sold by the square meter. By calculating the area, you ensure you buy enough material to cover the entire floor without gaps or shortages, and you can also estimate the cost based on the price per square meter.