Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) Practice Exam

What does the equation s² represent in geometry?

1. The area of a triangle

2. The area of a square, where s is the length of a side

3. The perimeter of a rectangle

4. The circumference of a circle

The correct answer is: The area of a square, where s is the length of a side

In geometry, the equation s² specifically represents the area of a square, where 's' denotes the length of one side of the square. This relationship arises from the definition of area; for a square, the area is calculated by multiplying the length of one side by itself. Since a square has four equal sides, if each side is of length 's', the area becomes s * s, which is written as s². Understanding this concept is fundamental in geometry when dealing with shapes and their properties. The area provides a quantitative measure of the space enclosed within the square. This foundational knowledge distinguishes the area of a square from the calculations needed for other geometric figures, which is why the other choices, while related to geometry, do not apply here. They involve either different shapes or different properties (like perimeter or circumference) instead of the area of a square.