ASVAB · Geometry

A square has perimeter 36. What is its area?

Correct answer

81

  1. A 144
  2. B 36
  3. C 81
  4. D 72

Why this is the answer

Square: all four sides equal. Perimeter = 4 × side, so 36 = 4s, giving s = 9. Area = s² = 9² = 81 square units. Square properties to know: (1) All sides equal; (2) All angles 90°; (3) Diagonals are equal in length and bisect each other at 90°; (4) Diagonal length = s√2 (Pythagorean theorem with two sides of length s); (5) Perimeter = 4s; (6) Area = s²; (7) A square is a special rectangle, rhombus, and parallelogram. Don't confuse perimeter and area: perimeter is linear (boundary length), area is square (surface). Common error: dividing perimeter by 2 instead of 4 (forgetting all four sides), or finding side then forgetting to square it. Always identify what the problem asks for. Two-step problems are common on ASVAB MK: extract one quantity, use it to find another.
Source: ASVAB Math Knowledge — Square Properties

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About this topic: Geometry

Geometry on the Mathematics Knowledge section covers angles, triangles (including the Pythagorean theorem), circles, polygons, perimeter, area and volume, and basic coordinate geometry such as slope. Formulas are not provided, so they must be memorised. This is one of 19 Mathematics Knowledge questions on geometry, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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