Evaluate the expression (ab)² for a=4 and for b=3

Your friend swims on the school team. in his first four races, his times are 24.7, 23.5, 25.6, and 27.2 seconds. which time listed for his next race would make the range larger?

Can any one me with the answers to these questions asap?

Last year, a state university received 3,560 applications from boys. of those applications, 35 percent were from boys who lived in other states. part a)how many applications did the university receive from boys who lived in other states? part b)applications to the university from boys represented 40percent of all applications. how many applications did the university receive in all? i don't how to do part b so me and plz tell how you got your answer