Which expression correctly gives the area of a square?

• A. p = 4s
• B. p = 6s
• C. a = 4s
• D. a = s^2

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that the area of a square comes from multiplying the side length by itself. If the side length is s, the area is s × s, which is s squared. That’s why the expression for area uses a = s^2.

The other expressions mix up what’s being measured. Perimeter of a square is the total length around the shape, which is p = 4s, not an expression for area. An expression like a = 4s would imply area is proportional to the side length without squaring, which isn’t correct. And p = 6s doesn’t describe a square at all, since a square has four sides, not six. So a = s^2 is the correct description of a square’s area.