Question

Find the area of a square plot of land whose each side measures $8\frac{1}{2}$ metres.

Answer 1

Area of the square plot = Side $\times$ Side = ${\left(\mathrm{Side}\right)}^2$ = a² (Because the area of the square is $a^2$, where a is the side of the square)

$$\begin{gathered} =8\frac{1}{2}\times 8\frac{1}{2} \\ =\left(8+\frac{1}{2}\right)\times \left(8+\frac{1}{2}\right) \\ =\frac{17}{2}\times \frac{17}{2} \\ =\frac{17\times 17}{2\times 2} \\ =\frac{289}{4} \\ =72\frac{1}{4}{\text{m}}^2 \end{gathered}$$
Therefore, the area of the square plot is $72\frac{1}{4}{\text{m}}^2$.