Here's why:

* Area measures the space a two-dimensional shape occupies.

* We calculate area by multiplying two lengths together. Since length is measured in units like inches, feet, meters, etc., multiplying two lengths results in a unit that is "squared."

Examples:

* If you measure the length and width of a room in feet, the area of the room will be in square feet (ft²).

* If you calculate the area of a circle using centimeters, the area will be in square centimeters (cm²).

Key takeaway: Area is always expressed in square units, reflecting the two dimensions involved in its calculation.