Geometry Problems on Squares

Problems on area and perimeter of squares with detailed solutions.

Square Formulas

Perimeter: \( P = 4s \) where \( s \) is the side length

Area: \( A = s^2 \) where \( s \) is the side length

Diagonal: \( d = s\sqrt{2} \) where \( s \) is the side length

Problems

Problem 1

When the sides of a square are each increased by 2 feet, its area increases by 44 ft². Find the original side length \( s \).

Problem 2

Find the area and perimeter of a square with a diagonal of 200 meters.

Square with diagonal

Problem 3

What happens to the area of a square if we double its side length?

Problem 4

A square garden of 400 m² is surrounded by a walkway of constant width \( x \). The total area of the walkway is 500 m². Find the width \( x \).

Square garden with walkway

Detailed Solutions

Solution to Problem 1

Let \( s \) be the original side length.

Original area: \( A_1 = s^2 \)

New side length: \( s + 2 \)

New area: \( A_2 = (s + 2)^2 \)

Given: \( A_2 = A_1 + 44 \)

So: \( s^2 + 44 = (s + 2)^2 \)

Expand: \( s^2 + 44 = s^2 + 4s + 4 \)

Simplify: \( 44 = 4s + 4 \)

Solve: \( 4s = 40 \)

Thus: \( s = 10 \) feet

Check: Original area = \( 10^2 = 100 \) ft², New area = \( 12^2 = 144 \) ft², Difference = 44 ft² ✓

Solution to Problem 2

Using the diagonal formula: \( d = s\sqrt{2} \)

Given \( d = 200 \) m, so \( s\sqrt{2} = 200 \)

Thus: \( s = \frac{200}{\sqrt{2}} = 100\sqrt{2} \) m

Area: \( A = s^2 = (100\sqrt{2})^2 = 20000 \) m²

Perimeter: \( P = 4s = 4 \times 100\sqrt{2} = 400\sqrt{2} \) m

Solution to Problem 3

Let original side = \( s \), area = \( s^2 \)

New side = \( 2s \), new area = \( (2s)^2 = 4s^2 \)

Ratio: \( \frac{4s^2}{s^2} = 4 \)

Answer: The area becomes 4 times larger.

Solution to Problem 4

Garden area = 400 m², so side length = \( \sqrt{400} = 20 \) m

Total area (garden + walkway) = \( 400 + 500 = 900 \) m²

Let walkway width = \( x \)

Total side length = \( 20 + 2x \)

Equation: \( (20 + 2x)^2 = 900 \)

Take square root: \( 20 + 2x = 30 \) (positive root since length > 0)

Solve: \( 2x = 10 \)

Thus: \( x = 5 \) m

Check: Total side = 30 m, total area = 900 m², walkway area = 900 - 400 = 500 m² ✓

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