Look at the square below:
Express its area in terms of .
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Look at the square below:
Express its area in terms of .
Remember that the area of the square is equal to the side of the square raised to the 2nd power.
The formula for the area of the square is
We place the data in the formula:
Look at the square below:
What is the area of the square?
That's not how algebra works! The side length is the entire expression (x-7), not x and 7 separately. You must square the whole thing: , not individual parts.
Not unless asked! The question asks to express the area in terms of x, and is already a perfect expression. Keep it simple and factored.
Great question! In real geometry, side lengths must be positive, so x > 7. But in algebra problems, we often work with expressions even when they might not make physical sense.
Pick a test value! If x = 10, then side = 10-7 = 3, so area = 3² = 9. Your formula should give: ✓
No difference at all! Both expressions are equal because addition is commutative. So (x-7)² = (-7+x)² = (x-7)². Use whichever form looks cleaner to you.
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