Converting Square Units

Date: 05/29/2002 at 09:47:57
From: Renita Sellars
Subject: Converting in Math

Question submitted via WWW:
How many square kilometers are in 200 square miles?

Date: 05/29/2002 at 15:59:55
From: Doctor Ian
Subject: Re: Converting in Math

Hi Renita,

Here is a rectangle with an area of 200 square miles:

                 20 mi
         +--------------------+
         |                    |
 10 mi   |                    |    20 mi * 10 mi = 200 mi^2
         |                    |
         +--------------------+

Now, there are about 8 km in 5 miles, so there are about 16 km in 10
miles, and 32 in 20 miles:

                 20 mi
         +--------------------+
         |                    |
 10 mi   |                    | 16 km
         |                    |
         +--------------------+
                 32 km

Does this help? 

- Doctor Ian, The Math Forum
  http://mathforum.org/dr.math/