Converting centimeters to meters is easy, but people get confused converting square centimeters to square meters. These two example problems show how to convert cm2 to m2 and back again.
cm2 to m2 Conversion Factor
The conversion factor between cm2 to m2 is
10,000 cm2 = 1 m2
or
104 cm2 = 1 m2
How do you get that? Start with the conversion from cm to m.
100 cm = 1 m
A square meter is a square 1 meter wide and 1 meter tall.
1 m2 = 1 m x 1 m
Substitute the conversion factor for meter to centimeter
1 m2 = (100 cm) x (100 cm)
1 m2 = 10,000 cm2 = 104 cm2
cm2 to m2 Conversion Example Problem
Question: How many square meters are in 75,000 square centimeters?
Multiply the conversion factor between cm2 and m2 by the 75,000 cm2. Put the unit you want to be canceled out in the denominator.
This cancels out the undesired unit, leaving the unit we want.
7.5 m2 = x m2
Answer: There are 7.5 square meters in 75,000 square centimeters.
m2 to cm2 Conversion Example Problem
Question: How many square centimeters are in 3 square meters?
Multiply the conversion factor between cm2 and m2 by the 3 m2. Put the unit you want to be canceled out in the denominator.
This setup allows us to cancel out the unneeded m2 units.
30,000 cm2 = x cm2
Answer: There are 30,000 cm2 in 3 m2.