Question 27668
A square has sides of length 3x - 2 cm.  
Express the area of the square as a polynomial.
 A square is a quadrilateral with all its sides equal and each angle a right angle that is 90 degrees.
If a square has side  y cms, then its area is given by y^2 sq cms
Therefore given that y = (3x-2)cms
The area of the given square is (3x-2)^2 sq cms
 = (3x)^2 + 2(3x)X(-2) + (-2)^2  [using the formula (a+b)^2 =a^2 +2ab + b^2 ]
 =  9x^2 -12x + 4
Answer: (9x^2 -12x + 4) sq cms  
Note: You may write (3x-2)^2 as
(3x-2)(3x-2) = (3x)(3x-2)-2(3x-2)=(3x)^2-6x-6x +4 = 9x^2 -12x +4