How Do You Figure Out Area in Square Centimeters?

Don't get tangled by the metric system; converters are everywhere.

The metric system is a method of measurement the French create in 1791. Most of the world uses the metric system for measuring area (square meter), distance (meter), mass (gram) and volume (liter). However, the metric system never caught on in the United States. Scientists use the metric system, stores sell beverages in liters, doctors prescribe medicine in milligrams, and track and field organizations measure events in meters. American children still learn, and quickly forget, the metric system in school. Many people use one of the Internet's conversion sites to resolve their metric dilemmas.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pencil and paper
• Calculator

Instructions

1. Measure in feet the length of the space, and multiply the number of feet by 30.48 to convert to centimeters. Record the centimeter length on the paper.

2. Measure in feet the width of the space, and multiply the number of feet by 30.48 to convert to centimeters. Record the centimeter width on the paper.

3. Multiply centimeter length by the centimeter width, using the calculator. The product is your area in square centimeters.

References

• University of California at Berkley: College of Chemistry: Common Equivalent Weights and Measures