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If I have a square with side $2\ \text{km}$, what is its area: $2\ \text{sq km}$ or $4\ \text{km}^2$?

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    The notation $4\,\mathrm{km}^2$ will be understood all over the world. The notation $4\,\mathrm{sq. km}$ only in English speaking countries.2012-09-26

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A square with side $2\ \text{km}$ has area $4\ \text{km}^2$. This is pronounced as four square kilometres.

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Suppose that a triangle has $\text{height = }a \text{ cm}, \text{ base = }b \text{ cm}$. The area, in mathematical notation, is $\Large {a\cdot b \over 2} \normalsize \text{cm}^2 $.

You may pronounce the above as the quantity a times b all over two square centimeters, even though there is no difference at all.

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    @VAR121: The comment is no longer relevant to the answer that appears above, because it was already edited to correct the error. It previously said km$^2$ where it should have said cm$^2$, and $1$km$^2=10^{10}$cm$^2$.2012-09-27