How to find the length of the side of a square - GRE Quantitative Reasoning

If the area of Circle is , we know that the area can be computed using the standard area formula:

, using for

Simplifying, we get:

We know that must be less than . By choosing for , we find out that this is the radius of our circle. Thus, we know that the diameter of the circle is double this, or . Now, consider the following diagram:

Notice that the diameter is the same length as a side of the square. Thus, is equal to .

You can further fill in your diagram as follows:

Now, we know that the triangle is a triangle. We also know that the length of and must also be equal to the diameter of the circle. (The diameter of the circle will run across the circle horizontally if you draw it that way. This will provide you with a complete side length.) Now, we know that the ratio of the hypotenuse of to the side must be the same as:

For our data, that means:

Simplifying, we know:

Now, make both sides reciprocals:

Finally, solve:

Recall, this is both the length of the side and the diameter of the circle. Hence, you have your answer.

The first step to a quantitative comparison is to determine whether it can be solved at all with the given knowledge. Since all you need to find the side-length of a square is the perimeter, the area, OR the diagonal and we have one of each for these two quantities, this relationship can be determined. Thus, "the relationship cannot be determined" is out.

Now, to solve both quantities. Quantity A can be solved by translating the perimeter into side lengths: the formula for the perimeter of a square is , with being the side-length, so you just need to divide the perimeter by four.

Thus, quantity A is .

Quantity B can be solved by translating the area into side lengths: the formula for the area of a square is , or , with being the side-length, so you just need to find the square root of the area.

Thus, quantity B is roughly .

Therefore quantity A is greater.

If the area of Circle is , we know that the area can be computed using the standard area formula:

, using for

Simplifying, we get:

We know that must be less than . By choosing for , we find out that this is the radius of our circle. Thus, we know that the diameter of the circle is double this, or . Now, consider the following diagram:

Notice that the diameter is the same length as a side of the square. Thus, is equal to .

You can further fill in your diagram as follows:

Now, we know that the triangle is a triangle. We also know that the length of and must also be equal to the diameter of the circle. (The diameter of the circle will run across the circle horizontally if you draw it that way. This will provide you with a complete side length.) Now, we know that the ratio of the hypotenuse of to the side must be the same as:

For our data, that means:

Simplifying, we know:

Now, make both sides reciprocals:

Finally, solve:

Recall, this is both the length of the side and the diameter of the circle. Hence, you have your answer.

The first step to a quantitative comparison is to determine whether it can be solved at all with the given knowledge. Since all you need to find the side-length of a square is the perimeter, the area, OR the diagonal and we have one of each for these two quantities, this relationship can be determined. Thus, "the relationship cannot be determined" is out.

Now, to solve both quantities. Quantity A can be solved by translating the perimeter into side lengths: the formula for the perimeter of a square is , with being the side-length, so you just need to divide the perimeter by four.

Thus, quantity A is .

Quantity B can be solved by translating the area into side lengths: the formula for the area of a square is , or , with being the side-length, so you just need to find the square root of the area.

Thus, quantity B is roughly .

Therefore quantity A is greater.

If the area of Circle is , we know that the area can be computed using the standard area formula:

, using for

Simplifying, we get:

We know that must be less than . By choosing for , we find out that this is the radius of our circle. Thus, we know that the diameter of the circle is double this, or . Now, consider the following diagram:

Notice that the diameter is the same length as a side of the square. Thus, is equal to .

You can further fill in your diagram as follows:

Now, we know that the triangle is a triangle. We also know that the length of and must also be equal to the diameter of the circle. (The diameter of the circle will run across the circle horizontally if you draw it that way. This will provide you with a complete side length.) Now, we know that the ratio of the hypotenuse of to the side must be the same as:

For our data, that means:

Simplifying, we know:

Now, make both sides reciprocals:

Finally, solve:

Recall, this is both the length of the side and the diameter of the circle. Hence, you have your answer.

The first step to a quantitative comparison is to determine whether it can be solved at all with the given knowledge. Since all you need to find the side-length of a square is the perimeter, the area, OR the diagonal and we have one of each for these two quantities, this relationship can be determined. Thus, "the relationship cannot be determined" is out.

Now, to solve both quantities. Quantity A can be solved by translating the perimeter into side lengths: the formula for the perimeter of a square is , with being the side-length, so you just need to divide the perimeter by four.

Thus, quantity A is .

Quantity B can be solved by translating the area into side lengths: the formula for the area of a square is , or , with being the side-length, so you just need to find the square root of the area.

Thus, quantity B is roughly .

Therefore quantity A is greater.

If the area of Circle is , we know that the area can be computed using the standard area formula:

, using for

Simplifying, we get:

We know that must be less than . By choosing for , we find out that this is the radius of our circle. Thus, we know that the diameter of the circle is double this, or . Now, consider the following diagram:

Notice that the diameter is the same length as a side of the square. Thus, is equal to .

You can further fill in your diagram as follows:

Now, we know that the triangle is a triangle. We also know that the length of and must also be equal to the diameter of the circle. (The diameter of the circle will run across the circle horizontally if you draw it that way. This will provide you with a complete side length.) Now, we know that the ratio of the hypotenuse of to the side must be the same as:

For our data, that means:

Simplifying, we know:

Now, make both sides reciprocals:

Finally, solve:

Recall, this is both the length of the side and the diameter of the circle. Hence, you have your answer.

The first step to a quantitative comparison is to determine whether it can be solved at all with the given knowledge. Since all you need to find the side-length of a square is the perimeter, the area, OR the diagonal and we have one of each for these two quantities, this relationship can be determined. Thus, "the relationship cannot be determined" is out.

Now, to solve both quantities. Quantity A can be solved by translating the perimeter into side lengths: the formula for the perimeter of a square is , with being the side-length, so you just need to divide the perimeter by four.

Thus, quantity A is .

Quantity B can be solved by translating the area into side lengths: the formula for the area of a square is , or , with being the side-length, so you just need to find the square root of the area.

Thus, quantity B is roughly .

Therefore quantity A is greater.

If the area of Circle is , we know that the area can be computed using the standard area formula:

, using for

Simplifying, we get:

We know that must be less than . By choosing for , we find out that this is the radius of our circle. Thus, we know that the diameter of the circle is double this, or . Now, consider the following diagram:

Notice that the diameter is the same length as a side of the square. Thus, is equal to .

You can further fill in your diagram as follows:

Now, we know that the triangle is a triangle. We also know that the length of and must also be equal to the diameter of the circle. (The diameter of the circle will run across the circle horizontally if you draw it that way. This will provide you with a complete side length.) Now, we know that the ratio of the hypotenuse of to the side must be the same as:

For our data, that means:

Simplifying, we know:

Now, make both sides reciprocals:

Finally, solve:

Recall, this is both the length of the side and the diameter of the circle. Hence, you have your answer.

The first step to a quantitative comparison is to determine whether it can be solved at all with the given knowledge. Since all you need to find the side-length of a square is the perimeter, the area, OR the diagonal and we have one of each for these two quantities, this relationship can be determined. Thus, "the relationship cannot be determined" is out.

Now, to solve both quantities. Quantity A can be solved by translating the perimeter into side lengths: the formula for the perimeter of a square is , with being the side-length, so you just need to divide the perimeter by four.

Thus, quantity A is .

Quantity B can be solved by translating the area into side lengths: the formula for the area of a square is , or , with being the side-length, so you just need to find the square root of the area.

Thus, quantity B is roughly .

Therefore quantity A is greater.

If the area of Circle is , we know that the area can be computed using the standard area formula:

, using for

Simplifying, we get:

We know that must be less than . By choosing for , we find out that this is the radius of our circle. Thus, we know that the diameter of the circle is double this, or . Now, consider the following diagram:

Notice that the diameter is the same length as a side of the square. Thus, is equal to .

You can further fill in your diagram as follows:

Now, we know that the triangle is a triangle. We also know that the length of and must also be equal to the diameter of the circle. (The diameter of the circle will run across the circle horizontally if you draw it that way. This will provide you with a complete side length.) Now, we know that the ratio of the hypotenuse of to the side must be the same as:

For our data, that means:

Simplifying, we know:

Now, make both sides reciprocals:

Finally, solve:

Recall, this is both the length of the side and the diameter of the circle. Hence, you have your answer.

The first step to a quantitative comparison is to determine whether it can be solved at all with the given knowledge. Since all you need to find the side-length of a square is the perimeter, the area, OR the diagonal and we have one of each for these two quantities, this relationship can be determined. Thus, "the relationship cannot be determined" is out.

Now, to solve both quantities. Quantity A can be solved by translating the perimeter into side lengths: the formula for the perimeter of a square is , with being the side-length, so you just need to divide the perimeter by four.

Thus, quantity A is .

Quantity B can be solved by translating the area into side lengths: the formula for the area of a square is , or , with being the side-length, so you just need to find the square root of the area.

Thus, quantity B is roughly .

Therefore quantity A is greater.

If the area of Circle is , we know that the area can be computed using the standard area formula:

, using for

Simplifying, we get:

We know that must be less than . By choosing for , we find out that this is the radius of our circle. Thus, we know that the diameter of the circle is double this, or . Now, consider the following diagram:

Notice that the diameter is the same length as a side of the square. Thus, is equal to .