SOLUTION: im not sure how to start the problem shown below: The diagonal of a square measures 32 meters. What is the area of the square?

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Question 257032: im not sure how to start the problem shown below:
The diagonal of a square measures 32 meters. What is the area
of the square?

Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


The diagonal of a square is the hypotenuse of an isosceles right triangle. So if is the measure of the diagonal and is the measure of the side of the square which is the same as the measure of the legs of the triangle, then Pythagoras says:





Therefore



Hence, if the diagonal measures 32 meters, then the side of the square measures .

The area of a square is the measure of the side squared (hence the term 'squared'), so:




John