Converting units of area
The unit conversions for length can be used to calculate areas in different units.
The two squares have the same area.
Square 1
Area = \(1~\text{m} \times 1~\text{m}\)
Area = 1 m2
Square 2
Area = \(100~\text{cm} \times 100~\text{cm}\)
Area = 10,000 cm2
Since Square 1 and Square 2 have the same area, \(1~\text{m}^2 = 10,000~\text{cm}^2\).
Use the same method to convert cm2 into mm2.
Square 3
Area = \(1~\text{cm} \times 1~\text{cm}\)
Area = 1 cm2
1 cm2 = 100 mm2
Square 4
Area = \(10~\text{mm} \times 10~\text{mm}\)
Area = 100 mm2
Since Square 3 and Square 4 have the same area, \(1~\text{cm}^2 = 100~\text{mm}^2\)
Example
Convert 5.2 m2 into cm2.
1 m2 = 100 cm x 100 cm = 10,000 cm2
\(5.2 \times 10,000 = 52,000~\text{cm}^\text{2}\)