How do you convert meters into square meters? - Answers

When you have a shape which is X metres by Y metres, you multiply the X by the Y and the result is the area of the shape in square metres. Imagine a shape 5 metres by 3 metres. 3 x 5 = 15 square metres. To prove this, mark off the metres along all the sides of the shape. Then use straight lines to join the marks on one of the long sides to the corresponding mark on the opposite side. Do the same for the narrow sides. Now, you will have 3 rows of squares - each row being 5 squares long... and if you count the squares you will see that you have 15. The above answer is mathematically flawed. The question cannot be answered sensibly. A square metre is a measure of area, with dimensions [L2]. A metre is a measure of distance, with dimensions [L]. The two measure different things and basic dimensional analysis teaches that you cannot convert between measures with different dimensions such as these without additional information.