Calculate Square Area: Finding Area When Side Length is (6-3) cm

Square Area with Subtracted Side Length

A square has sides measuring 6 cm long. Another square has sides measuring 3 cm less than those of the previous square. Calculate the area of the new square.

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Find the area of the new square
00:03 The given square's side length
00:06 The new square's side is 3 less than the given one
00:10 Let's calculate the side length of the new square
00:15 We'll use the formula for square area (side squared)
00:19 We'll substitute appropriate values and solve for the area
00:23 And that's the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

A square has sides measuring 6 cm long. Another square has sides measuring 3 cm less than those of the previous square. Calculate the area of the new square.

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Identify the original side length.
  • Step 2: Determine the new side length by subtracting 3 cm from the original side length.
  • Step 3: Apply the formula for the area of a square to find the area of the new square.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: The original square has sides measuring 6 cm.
Step 2: The new square has sides measuring 63=3 6 - 3 = 3 cm.
Step 3: The area of the new square is calculated using the formula Area=side2 \text{Area} = \text{side}^2 .
Thus, the new area is 32=9 cm2 3^2 = 9 \ \text{cm}^2 .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is 9 cm2 9 \ \text{cm}^2 .

3

Final Answer

9

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Formula: Area of square equals side length squared
  • Technique: First calculate new side: 6 - 3 = 3 cm
  • Check: Verify by squaring the new side length: 32=9 3^2 = 9

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Using the original side length in area formula
    Don't calculate area using 6 cm = 36 cm²! This ignores the 3 cm reduction completely. Always find the new side length first (6 - 3 = 3), then square that result.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Which of the following is equivalent to the expression below?

\( \)\( 10,000^1 \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Do I subtract 3 from the area or from the side length?

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Always subtract from the side length first! The problem says "3 cm less than those of the previous square," referring to the sides, not the area. So: 6 - 3 = 3 cm, then find area.

Why can't I just subtract 3 from the original area of 36?

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Because area doesn't work that way! When you change the side length, the area changes exponentially (by squaring). The new area is 32=9 3^2 = 9 , not 36 - 3 = 33.

What's the difference between 36 - 3 and (6-3)²?

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Huge difference! 36 - 3 = 33 (wrong method), but (63)2=32=9 (6-3)^2 = 3^2 = 9 (correct method). Always work with the side length first, then square it.

How do I remember the correct order of operations?

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  • Step 1: Find the new side length
  • Step 2: Square the new side length for area
  • Step 3: Check by substituting back

Think: sides first, then square!

Is there a shortcut for this type of problem?

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Not really - you need both steps! But remember: when the side changes, the area changes by the square of that change. So always calculate the new side length carefully first.

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