California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Math Practice Exam

In which of the following measures is area commonly expressed?

1. Feet and inches

2. Liters and milliliters

3. Square feet and square centimeters

4. Degrees and radians

The correct answer is: Square feet and square centimeters

Area is a measure that quantifies the amount of space within a two-dimensional shape or surface. It is calculated by multiplying two linear dimensions (such as length and width). Since these dimensions are expressed in linear units, the area is expressed in squared units. For instance, when measuring area in square feet, each foot of length is multiplied by another foot of length, resulting in square feet (ft²). Similarly, when measuring area in square centimeters, it involves multiplying centimeters by centimeters, yielding square centimeters (cm²). These squared units are universally accepted for expressing areas of surfaces. The other measures mentioned apply to different contexts. Feet and inches are linear measurements, encompassing distance rather than area. Liters and milliliters are units of volume rather than area, dealing with three-dimensional space instead of two-dimensional surfaces. Degrees and radians are used to measure angles, again unrelated to the concept of area. Thus, the expression of area is appropriately conveyed through square feet and square centimeters.