3.5 to the second power means 3.5 times 3.5
when you multiply. multiply as if the decimal is not there:
3.5
x 3.5
--------
175
+ 1050
____________
1225
because there is a total of two decimal places after the decimal point
3.5 (one decimal place)
3.5 (one decimal place)
move the decimal point two spaces from right to left
that will put the decimal in the middle and your answer would be 12.15