Question

If the side of square is decreased by 50% then its new area will be ____.

• A. Decrease by 25 Percent
• B. Decrease by 75 Percent
• C. Increase by 33.33 Percent
• D. Increase by 50 Percent

Hint:

Correct the sum using the difference between the wrong and right observation values.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Let the original side of the square be \(s\), so its original area is \(s^2\). When the side is decreased by 50%, the new side becomes \(0.5s\), and the new area is \((0.5s)^2 = 0.25s^2\), just 25% of the original.
That means the area has fallen by \(100\% - 25\% = 75\%\).
Since area depends on the square of the side length, it drops much faster than the side itself, which is why halving the side causes such a large 75% decrease. That matches option 2.