Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) Practice Exam

Which formula correctly determines the area of a square?

1. 4s

2. s²

3. 2s

4. bh

The correct answer is: s²

The area of a square is determined by the formula s², where s represents the length of one side of the square. This formula comes from the fact that a square is defined by having four equal sides and the area is calculated by multiplying the length of one side by itself. In a square, since all sides are equal, when you multiply the length (s) by the width (which is also s), the result is s multiplied by s, or s². This correctly calculates the total space contained within the boundaries of the square. The other options do not represent the area of a square. The option that suggests 4s would calculate the perimeter, which is the total distance around the square, not the area. 2s represents the length of two sides, and bh is a formula used for the area of a rectangle, where b is the base and h is the height. Since a square is a specific type of rectangle with equal sides, using bh with different measures would not apply. Thus, s² is the only formula that accurately gives the area of a square.