Units of Area
Units of area are square units that measure the space a shape covers, like mm², cm², m², and km². To convert between units of area, square the length conversion, so 1 cm² = 100 mm². Multiply for smaller units, divide for larger.
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What is Area?
- Area measures how much space a flat shape covers.
- It is measured using square units.
Common Units of Area
- Common units include mm², cm², m², and km².
- Each unit represents a square (e.g. .
Converting Units of Area
- When converting area, you must square the length conversion.
- For example, , so .
Using Area Conversions
- When converting to a smaller area unit (e.g. m² → cm²), multiply.
- When converting to a larger area unit (e.g. mm² → cm²), divide.
Practice Questions
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Which of the following is NOT a unit of area?
Correct! 🎉 +10 pointsNot quite right
Kilogram (kg) is a unit of weight, while the others measure area.
What is the area of a square with sides 1 centimetre long?
Correct! 🎉 +10 pointsNot quite right
The area of a square is found by multiplying its side by itself. For a square with sides, the area is .
If a room has an area of 15 square metres, what does this mean?
Correct! 🎉 +20 pointsNot quite right
15 square metres means the area can fit 15 squares, each measuring × .
Convert 4500 square millimetres to square centimetres.
Correct! 🎉 +20 pointsNot quite right
To convert, divide by 100 since . So .
Convert 2500 square centimetres to square metres.
Correct! 🎉 +20 pointsNot quite right
Since , divide 2500 by 10000 to get .
A rectangular room is long and wide. What is its area in square metres?
Correct! 🎉 +30 pointsNot quite right
First calculate the area in square centimetres: . Since , divide .
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Interactive Activity
Convert between units of area
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Students Also Ask
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A square metre is the area of a square with sides that are each 1 metre long. It is a common unit of area, and you use it to describe medium surfaces such as windows and rooms. A floor of 25 square metres holds 25 of these squares.
You square the conversion factor because a square unit has two equal sides, and you convert each one. For example, 1 centimetre equals 10 millimetres. So 1 square centimetre equals 10 mm × 10 mm, which is 100 square millimetres. Squaring keeps the conversion correct.
It depends on the direction. When you convert to a smaller unit, you multiply. When you convert to a larger unit, you divide. For example, 5,000 square millimetres becomes 50 square centimetres when you divide by 100. Always check the direction before you calculate.
The common metric units of area are the square millimetre, the square centimetre, the square metre, and the square kilometre. Each one is the area of a square with sides of that length. You choose a larger unit to measure a larger surface.
One square metre equals 10,000 square centimetres. This is because 1 metre equals 100 centimetres, and you square that length factor: 100 × 100 = 10,000. Converting 3 square metres gives 3 × 10,000 = 30,000 square centimetres. You multiply here because you are moving to a smaller unit.