Bunuel

The coordinates of the points P, Q, R and S are shown in the figure above. If PQ and RS are the diagonals of a square, what is the area of the square?
(A) 2√2
(B) 4
(C) 4√2
(D) 8
(E) 8√2
Attachment:
2017-12-19_0837_002.png
Three ways to solve, below, are all based on the length of the diagonal.
Diagonal = length of line segment RS (or PQ, in which case use x-coordinates instead):
\((y_2 - y_1) = (7 - 3) = 4 = d\)
1. Area from diagonal alone:
\(A= \frac{d^2}{2}\)Area of square =
\(\frac{d^2}{2}=\frac{4^2}{2}=\frac{16}{2}=8\)2. Area from \(s^2\), calculated from diagonal length
\(s\sqrt{2} = d\)
\(s=\frac{d}{\sqrt{2}}\)
\(s=\frac{4}{\sqrt{2}}\)
\(Area = s^2\)
\(Area = (\frac{4}{\sqrt{2}}*\frac{4}{\sqrt{2}})= \frac{16}{2} = 8\)
3. Area from sides and Pythagorean theorem
A square's diagonal is the hypotenuse of an isosceles right triangle. Use Pythagorean theorem:
\(s^2 + s^2 = d^2\)
\(2s^2 = 4^2\)
\(s^2 = \frac{4^2}{2}\)
\(Area = s^2 = \frac{4^2}{2}=\frac{16}{2}= 8\)
ANSWER D
*Note: obvious, but often overlooked. Do not solve for \(s\) in #3. Once you have \(s^2\), you have area.