Could some convert this for me please?

Legacy_user

would someone be kind enough to convert an area for me please, I've tried with no success. The area is 18ft 6" x 11ft 6", I need to know what the answer is in metre's squared.

We are due to have our concrete standing for the car replaced with block paving, and the builders estimate shows 20m sq'd and I wondered if this was right

john87_2

18.5 x 11.5 = 212.75 square foot

212.75 sq ft = 19.76 sq m

John_Gray

I calculate this as 19.765 sq m, which is less than 2% smaller than 20 sq m!

WhiteChristmas

islandman wrote: »

the builders estimate shows 20m sq'd

Does it really? That's a bit slack of him. 20 metres squared is 400 square metres. That's the sort of mistake that gets folk into all sorts of contractual trouble.

spud17

WhiteChristmas wrote: »

Does it really? That's a bit slack of him. 20 metres squared is 400 square metres. That's the sort of mistake that gets folk into all sorts of contractual trouble.

The difference between 2 or 3 packs of paviors, and nearly 50 packs, (depending on their thickness).

esuhl

WhiteChristmas wrote: »

20 metres squared is 400 square metres. That's the sort of mistake that gets folk into all sorts of contractual trouble.

Obviously there's is a difference between "(20 metres) squared" (i.e. 20m x 20m =400m^2) and "20 (metres squared) = 20 (square metres)" (i.e. 20 m x m =20m^2), but I'm almost certain that "square metres" and "metres squared" are interchangeable terms that mean the same thing - i.e. the "squared" bit refers to the units, not the magnitude.

There does seem to be a lot of confusion about the matter (much to my surprise - after a quick web search). I think that people just assume that the different word order must change the interpretation and that "metres squared" is semantically ambiguous, so it must mean the magnitude is squared along with the units... but I think that's a mistake.

However, "common usage" and "logical interpretation" aren't necessarily of any help in legal cases, and it's easy enough to get an estimate or contract amended!

milesoneill

The builder should have written on the quote: "20 sqm" or "20m²". 20 m sq'd is ambiguous.
For areas, they are usually described as being square metres.
For square multiplication, it's usually termed metres square(d).

But from the info above it seems the builder has given the correct value, you just need to clarify that he means 20m² and not (20m)²

Miles.

System

20m² this is what was printed, but I didn't know how to present it.

Cricri

Did you know Google converts units?

http://www.google.co.uk/#q=(18ft+6in)*(11ft+6in)+in+m^2

19.7651218 m^2