(2. from Unit 4, Lesson 18 Colorado is 610 kilometers long and 450 kilometers wide. a. New Mexico is about 596 kilometers long and 552 kilometers wide. Is the area of Colorado greater than or less than the area of New Mexico? Explain your reasoning.

To compare the areas, let's first calculate the area of each state using the formula for the area of a rectangle: Area = Length × Width. For Colorado, the area is 610 km × 450 km = 274,500 square kilometers. For New Mexico, the area is 596 km × 552 km = 329,472 square kilometers. Therefore, New Mexico has a greater area than Colorado. In comparing areas, it’s good practice to ensure the units of measurement are consistent, so always double-check your calculations! A common mistake is to forget to multiply length and width or misinterpret the dimensions, leading to incorrect conclusions.