How do you convert cm² to m²?

To convert square centimeters (cm²) to square meters (m²), it is essential to understand the relationship between the two units of area. One meter is equal to 100 centimeters. Therefore, when converting from cm² to m², you must take into account that area involves squaring the conversion factor.

Since there are 100 cm in a meter, when calculating the area, you use the square of the conversion factor:

(100 cm)² = 10,000 cm² in 1 m².

To convert from cm² to m², you divide the number of square centimeters by 10,000. This division translates the area measurement from a smaller unit (cm²) to a larger unit (m²), correctly aligning the measurement with the dimensions of a square meter. Thus, dividing by 10,000 effectively transforms the smaller area measurement into its equivalent value in square meters.