How many linear meters are in a square meter?

Linear meters cannot be converted to square meters. A linear meter is used to measure only one side of an object: its length, width or height. A measurement in square meters calculates the flat area a shape covers.

Area is determined by multiplying a shape's length by its width. Sometimes, these measurements are determined in linear meters. For instance, a small garden is 5 meters wide and 8 meters long. These are linear measurements. The area of the garden is 5 x 8, or 40 square meters. However, a small area, such as a book cover, is measured in centimeters. The linear measurements of a book are 20 centimeters in length and 10 centimeters in width. The area of the book cover is 200 square centimeters.