Question 621628: When we add meter with meter in a word problem or while solving a question,how to add them ? Is it m^2 or 2m Answer by vleith(2983) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! think of it this way, when you add one length to another, in a straight line, the unit doesn't change. You simply add. And end op with a 'longer' distance and an answer that is one dimension.
If you multiply units (like length) you end up with an area .. and an answer in two dimensions (squared units).
Let's take an example using an American football field. If you run two plays, with one play gaining 12 yards and the second gaining 3, your total yardage for those two plays would be
If you wanted to know how large of a playing surface the field was, you would walk off 53 yards in width and 120 yards in length. So the playing area is