The length of one edge of a cube is 16 centimeters. What is the area of the base of the cube in square centimeters?

The area of the base of a cube can be found by calculating the square of the length of one edge. Since each edge of the cube is 16 centimeters, you simply multiply 16 cm by itself: 16 cm x 16 cm = 256 square centimeters. Therefore, the area of the base of the cube is 256 cm²! Now, let’s imagine you have a small box, and you want to cover only the bottom. If that box has edges of 16 centimeters, you’d need 256 square centimeters of material to cover it entirely. This rectangle of 16 cm by 16 cm equals the base area you’ve just computed, and it’s a geometric calculation that comes handy in real-life scenarios, like choosing paint or tiles!