Question

The length of the diagonal of a square is 24 cm. Find its area.

Answer 1

Given: Diagonal of the square, d = 24 cm.

Step-wise calculation:

1. Let side = s.

By Pythagoras on the right triangle formed by two sides and the diagonal:

d² = s² + s² 

= 2s²

2. So `s^2 = d^2/2`.

Hence Area = `s^2 = (d^2)/2`.

3. Substitute d = 24 cm:

Area = `(24^2)/2` 

= `576/2` 

= 288 cm²

Area of the square = 288 cm².