For high school wrestling competitions, the wrestling mat must be a square with an area of 1444 square feet. _ feet is the length of each side of the wrestling mat.

Area of a square = a^2 ... where " a " is the length of one side

A = a^2

A = 1444

1444 = a^2 ... take the sqrt of both sides, eliminating the ^2

sqrt 1444 = a

38 = a ... so each side is 38 ft <==