Final answer:
a) x^2 = 5x
The equation that models the situation where squaring a number yields five times that number is 'x^2 = 5x'. This represents a quadratic equation which can be written as x^2 - 5x = 0.
Step-by-step explanation:
The situation described in the student's question involves squaring a number to get five times that same number. The equation that correctly models this scenario is x2 = 5x. This equation is derived from setting the square of the number, which is x2, equal to five times the number itself, which is represented as 5x.
To clarify using the question's term, if the number is x, then squaring x means multiplying it by itself, denoted as x2. Therefore, the equation 'x2 = 5x' appropriately represents the situation described. It's important to note that this equation can be rearranged to form a quadratic equation by bringing all terms to one side, resulting in x2 - 5x = 0.