Given:
The areas of two similar squares are 16m² and 49m².
To find:
The scale factor of their side lengths.
Solution:
We know that the ratio of the areas of the similar squares is proportional to the ratio of square of there sides.
![\frac{\text{Area of first square}}{\text{Area of second square}}=\frac{(\text{Side length of first square})^2}{(\text{Side length of second square})^2}](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/mathematics/high-school/vz5csbxgnd760jvt54p6dsr80yn6vl0eu3.png)
![(16\ m^2)/(49\ m^2)=(s_1^2)/(s_2^2)](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/mathematics/high-school/wtl0nm3givwvhfz45jhkfknvwtepj17jn7.png)
![(4^2)/(7^2)=\left((s_1)/(s_2)\right)^2](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/mathematics/high-school/mavufw9wl90huvdtftjnottw30zrfnl466.png)
![\left((4)/(7)\right)^2=\left((s_1)/(s_2)\right)^2](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/mathematics/high-school/91sfrxu9atlghn9yy6h1eur9m3eq3nedb2.png)
Taking square root on both sides, we get
![(4)/(7)=(s_1)/(s_2)](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/mathematics/high-school/x06mjt1ufwl3u5etz98xxzsw43iaj0f5b8.png)
![(s_1)/(s_2)=(4)/(7)](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/mathematics/high-school/2f157oo9wf89dmqpecc14yo1evpuqg6hnr.png)
Now, the scale factor is the ratio of side length of second square to the side length of first square.
![k=(s_2)/(s_1)](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/mathematics/high-school/3mt3ulok528nz9r7b6kijubn1yahavrv3z.png)
![k=(7)/(4)](https://img.qammunity.org/2022/formulas/geography/college/iplhrm39fx6zbsb4g6yfjygx8r1ievxkbp.png)
Therefore, the scale factor of their side lengths is
.