How do you convert between area measurements?

To convert between say square metres and square centimetres, first you need the conversion fact that links metres and centimetres which is 1m = 100cm. Then the conversion fact that links square metres and square centimetres would be 1 square metre = 100 x 100 or (100 squared) = 10000 square centimetres.

The easiest way to understand how to convert between areas is to to draw a unit square of the larger unit and label each of the adjacent sides in the smaller unit you are converting to. So in a Square Kilometre each side has a length of 1000m.

To find its area in metres you need the length X width = 1000m x1000m = 1,000,000 square metres. Hence 1 square kilometre is 1,000,000 square metres.