The figure shown is made up of 10 identical squares. If the area of the figure is $160 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}$, what is the perimeter of the figure?
(A) $72 \mathrm{~cm}$
(B) $80 \mathrm{~cm}$
(C) $88 \mathrm{~cm}$
(D) $64 \mathrm{~cm}$
(E) $100 \mathrm{~cm}$

![](https://cdn.mathpix.com/cropped/2024_04_20_e85ef69091c57cb633f3g-039.jpg?height=258&width=249&top_left_y=1755&top_left_x=1380)
Since 10 identical squares have a total area of $160 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}$, then the area of each square is $\frac{160 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}}{10}$ or $16 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}$.

Since the area of each of the 10 identical squares is $16 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}$, then the side length of each of these squares is $\sqrt{16 \mathrm{~cm}^{2}}=4 \mathrm{~cm}$.

The perimeter of the given figure equals 22 square side lengths ( 4 on the left side, 4 on the bottom, 4 on the right side, 2 separate ones on the top, and 8 in the "U" shape in the middle). Therefore, the perimeter of the figure is $4 \mathrm{~cm} \times 22=88 \mathrm{~cm}$.

ANsWER: (C)