Final answer:
When the side lengths of a square are doubled, the area of the square becomes four times larger. A square with side lengths of 4 inches has an area of 16 square inches, while a similar square with side lengths of 8 inches has an area of 64 square inches.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer the question on how the area of a larger square compares to the area of a smaller square with dimensions twice the size of the first: If Marta has a square with a side length of 4 inches, the area of that square is 16 square inches (since area = side × side, or 4 inches × 4 inches). If she has a similar square with dimensions that are twice the first square (8 inches per side), the area of that larger square is 64 square inches (8 inches × 8 inches). Thus, the area of the larger square is four times the area of the smaller square, because the side length is doubled, and area is a function of the square of the side length.