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It's written as 20 m^2 (that is, with an exponent of 2), but is better
read as "20 square meters" than as "20 meters squared."
The reason for this is as you say, that the latter sounds as if it
means (20 m)^2, the square of 20 meters, rather than 20 (m^2), as it
really is, 20 times one meter squared.
The fact is, however, that you will find both forms used; I think it
is generally agreed that "20 square meters" is better, in order to
avoid that problem, but both are "correct." That is, the problem is
not that "20 meters squared" MEANS the area of a 20-meter square, but
that it can be taken either way, and is thus ambiguous. We simply want
to avoid the ambiguity.
read as "20 square meters" than as "20 meters squared."
The reason for this is as you say, that the latter sounds as if it
means (20 m)^2, the square of 20 meters, rather than 20 (m^2), as it
really is, 20 times one meter squared.
The fact is, however, that you will find both forms used; I think it
is generally agreed that "20 square meters" is better, in order to
avoid that problem, but both are "correct." That is, the problem is
not that "20 meters squared" MEANS the area of a 20-meter square, but
that it can be taken either way, and is thus ambiguous. We simply want
to avoid the ambiguity.
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