How to calculate square meters

How to calculate square meters

The square meter is the basic unit of measure, is used to measure two-dimensional surfaces or objects such as a wall, an apartment or a door.

A square meter is an area within a square whose sides measure one meter. They are expressed with the symbol "m²".

Square meters are calculated in different ways depending on the shape of the area you want to know: square, triangle, circle. To do this, it is necessary to know the mathematical formula for calculating the square meters for each geometric figure.

To find the area of ​​an irregular figure, the figure must be divided into other figures such as squares or triangles. Then the square meters of these figures are calculated with the known formulas, they are added and the resulting number is the total area in square meters of the irregular figure.

How to calculate the square meters of different geometric figures?

1. Calculate square meters of a square or rectangle 

To calculate the square meters of, for example, a square wall, the height and width of the wall must be taken with a tape measure. Then both values ​​are multiplied and the result of the square meters of that area is obtained.

1. Calculate square meters of a right triangle

To calculate the square meters of right triangles, you must multiply the measure you have and then divide that result by two.

For example: in the triangle in the image: 5 x 7 = 35 meters will be multiplied. Then divide that result by two: 35/2 = 17.5 m².

1. Calculate square meters of an irregular rectangle 

To measure the square footage of irregular rectangles, you have to convert the irregular triangles to regular ones and then measure them.

To do this, a line must be drawn from any corner of the triangle to the opposite side in such a way that the line cuts that side of the triangle at an angle of 90 °. It is then calculated in the same way as right triangles.

1. Calculate square meters of a circle

To calculate the square meters of a circle, the circle must be divided into two exactly equal halves. Next, a line should be drawn down the middle, forming a right triangle.

You must first calculate the area of ​​the circle. To do this, the radius of the circle is measured and multiplied by two.

For example: Imagining that this radius is equal to 3 centimeters, we must multiply 3 x 2 = 6. This result is the diameter of the circle. Finally, this number must be multiplied by 3.14 (a number known as pi). Following this example 6 x 3.14 = 18.84 cm².

How to go from square meters to other measures?