Which unit is larger? 1 square kilometre or 1 hectare
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: 1 square kilometre is larger than 1 hectare.
Explanation
To understand why 1 square kilometre is larger than 1 hectare, we need to examine the definitions and conversions between these units of area.
A square kilometre (km²) is a metric unit of area that represents a square that is 1 kilometre on each side. Since 1 kilometre equals 1,000 metres, a square kilometre is: 1 km2=1,000 m×1,000 m=1,000,000 m21\, \text{km}^2 = 1,000\, \text{m} \times 1,000\, \text{m} = 1,000,000\, \text{m}^2
A hectare (ha) is another metric unit used to measure land area, especially in agriculture and land planning. One hectare is defined as: 1 ha=10,000 m21\, \text{ha} = 10,000\, \text{m}^2
Now, let’s compare the two: 1 km2=1,000,000 m21 ha=10,000 m21\, \text{km}^2 = 1,000,000\, \text{m}^2 \\ 1\, \text{ha} = 10,000\, \text{m}^2
To find out how many hectares are in a square kilometre, divide: 1 km2÷1 ha=1,000,000÷10,000=100 hectares1\, \text{km}^2 \div 1\, \text{ha} = 1,000,000 \div 10,000 = 100\, \text{hectares}
So, 1 square kilometre is equal to 100 hectares.
This clearly shows that a square kilometre is much larger than a hectare. To visualize this, imagine a large square piece of land divided into 100 equal smaller squares; each smaller square would be one hectare, and the entire area together would be one square kilometre.
In practical terms, square kilometres are used to measure larger areas such as cities, forests, or countries, while hectares are more common for agricultural plots or land development. Understanding these units is essential for interpreting maps, land records, or environmental data.
