The perimeter of square A is 5 times greater than the perimeter of square B. How many times greater is the area of square A than the area of square B?

1 Answer
Jan 31, 2016

If the length of each side of a square is z then its perimeter P is given by:

P=4z

Let the length of each side of square A be x and let P denote its perimeter. .
Let the length of each side of square B be y and let P' denote its perimeter.

implies P=4x and P'=4y

Given that: P=5P'

implies 4x=5*4y
implies x=5y
implies y=x/5

Hence, the length of each side of square B is x/5.

If the length of each side of a square is z then its perimeter A is given by:
A=z^2

Here the length of square A is x
and the length of square B is x/5

Let A_1 denote the area of square A and A_2 denote the area of square B.

implies A_1=x^2 and A_2=(x/5)^2^

implies A_1=x^2 and A_2=x^2/25

Divide A_1 by A_2

implies A_1/A_2=x^2/(x^2/25)

implies A_1/A_2=25

implies A_1=25A_2

This shows that the area of square A is 25 times greater than the area of square B.