This principle is crucial in coordinate geometry, where distances are always positive values, and in solving quadratic equations where variables might represent negative quantities. Raising a number to the power of 2 is the mathematical shorthand for squaring.
Square Calculation for Area and Speed
Using the formula for squaring a binomial (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b², you calculate 100 + 40 + 4, which sums to 144. Because multiplying two negative values results in a positive product, the square of any negative integer is always positive.
You can check your manual calculations by using the inverse operation: taking the square root of the result to see if you return to the original number. Breaking this down, this is 7 added to itself 7 times, which equals 49.
Square Calculation for Area and Speed
Strategies for Larger Numbers When dealing with larger numbers, breaking the calculation into smaller components can reduce the chance of error. You simply take the number and add it to itself the appropriate number of times.
More About How to figure a square
Looking at How to figure a square from another angle can help expand the discussion and give readers a second clear paragraph under the same section.
More perspective on How to figure a square can make the topic easier to follow by connecting earlier points with a few simple takeaways.