Final answer:
The area of a square with sides of length 2 1/2 cm is 6.25 cm², calculated by squaring the side length after converting it to an improper fraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The area of a square with sides of length 2 1/2 cm can be calculated using the formula for the area of a square, which is the length of one side squared (A = side²). In this case, you first convert the mixed number 2 1/2 into an improper fraction, which is 5/2 cm. Then you square the side length: (5/2 cm)².
Now, let's calculate: (5/2 cm) × (5/2 cm) = 25/4 cm² = 6.25 cm². Therefore, the area of the square is 6.25 cm².