5 km to Square Kilometers: How to Convert
Converting between units of measurement can be a daunting task, especially when dealing with different scales. One common conversion that people often struggle with is converting kilometers to square kilometers. In this article, we'll explore how to convert 5 kilometers to square kilometers.
What is a Square Kilometer?
Before we dive into the conversion, let's define what a square kilometer is. A square kilometer is a unit of area, equal to the area of a square with sides of 1 kilometer in length. It is denoted by the symbol km². Square kilometers are commonly used to measure the area of large regions, such as countries, cities, andnatural features like lakes and forests.
How to Convert 5 km to Square Kilometers
Now, let's get back to our original question: how to convert 5 kilometers to square kilometers. The key to this conversion is to understand that kilometers are a unit of length, while square kilometers are a unit of area.
To convert kilometers to square kilometers, we need to square the number of kilometers. In this case, we want to convert 5 kilometers to square kilometers.
The Formula:
The formula to convert kilometers to square kilometers is:
1 km² = (1 km)² = 1 km × 1 km = 1,000,000 m² (since 1 km = 1,000 m)
Converting 5 km to Square Kilometers:
Now, let's apply the formula to convert 5 kilometers to square kilometers:
5 km² = (5 km)² = 5 km × 5 km = 25,000,000 m²
Since 1 km² is equal to 1,000,000 m², we can convert 25,000,000 m² to km² by dividing by 1,000,000:
25,000,000 m² ÷ 1,000,000 = 25 km²
The Answer:
Therefore, 5 kilometers is equal to 25 square kilometers.
Conclusion:
Converting kilometers to square kilometers may seem complicated at first, but it's actually a simple process once you understand the formula. By squaring the number of kilometers, you can easily convert between these two units of measurement. Remember, 5 kilometers is equal to 25 square kilometers.