Answer
a) 216
b) Because the length of the side is squared when computing the area, when the sides are half as long, the area is one-fourth as much.
$(\frac{1}{2})^2=\frac{1}{4}$
Work Step by Step
Substitute to find the value.
$6s^2=6(6^2)=6(36)=216$
$6s^2=6(3^2)=6(9)=54$
The area is $\frac{1}{4}$ as much when the length of the side is reduced by $\frac{1}{2}$.
