Question 148545
what is the length of one side of a square that has an area of 289 in<sup>2</sup>?
<pre><font size = 4 color="indigo"><b>
Count the little squares, pretending they are each 1 in<sup>2</sup> each.

You'll find there are 289 of them

{{{drawing(300,300,1,19,1.2,19.2, grid(1) )}}}

Count the length of each side.  You'll find there are 17 on a side.

How do we find it without drawing and counting?

Use the formula:

{{{A=s^2}}}

Substitute 289 for A

{{{289=s^2}}}

Take the square root of both sides:

{{{sqrt(289)=sqrt(s^2)}}}

Get your calculator and take the square root of 289.

You'll get 17.  So

{{{17=s}}}

So each side of that square is 17 inches long. 

Edwin</pre>