Area of a square is defined as
Area = (side)^2
Let's start with square p. Square p has area = 17cm^2
Plug 17cm^2 into our area formula
17cm^2 = (side)^2. Take the square root of each side.
Sqrt(17) cm = side.
Every side for square p = sqrt(17) cm.
Next, square R has an area of 50 cm^2. Plug that into our formula.
50 cm^2 = (side)^2. Take the square root of each side.
Sqrt(50) = side.
Every side for square R = sqrt(50)
We now have one leg and the hypotenuse of a right triangle. Plug this into the pythagorean theorem.
b is the length of a side for square Q
(Sqrt(17))^2 + b^2 = (sqrt(50))^2. Square every term.
17 + b^2 = 50. Subtract 17 from both sides.
b^2 = 33. Take the square root of each side.
b = sqrt(33)
Each side of square Q = sqrt(33).
Plug sqrt(33) into our area formula.
A = (sqrt(33))^2. Solve for A
A = 33.
The area of square Q = 33 square centimeters.