2 squared is 4, which is more than 2. However, 0.2 squared is 0.04, which is less than 0.2. Can someone explain this apparent contradiction where a number between 0 and 1 squared becomes less than the original number but everything else (more than 1) becomes more?

Question

And I understand for example if I’m talking about meters, it’ll become square meters so the comparison is not apples to apples anymore. But in situations where there is no unit (for example, a math equation where you need to find x, whatever X is), why is this not contradictory?

In: 0

Answer 1

When you square a number smaller than 1 you are multiplying a number by a number smaller than 1 so you get a number that is smaller than the original number.

When you square a number that’s larger than 1 you are multiplying a number by a number that’s larger than 1 so you get a number that is larger than the original number.