Acre

Definition

An acre is a unit of area that is commonly used in the United States and other countries for measuring large plots of land. It is defined as 43,560 square feet or approximately 4,047 square meters. This measurement is crucial in real estate, agriculture, and land development, as it provides a standardized way to quantify land area.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. One acre is equivalent to about 1/640 of a square mile.
2. The acre has roots dating back to the medieval period when it was defined as the amount of land tillable by one man behind an ox in one day.
3. In addition to being used for land measurement, the acre is often applied in agriculture to describe field sizes and crop yields.
4. In some countries, the acre can also be used to express land areas in zoning and planning regulations.
5. Understanding the conversion between acres and other units like hectares or square feet is important for various fields including real estate, landscaping, and agriculture.

Review Questions

• How does the concept of an acre facilitate land measurement in real estate?
  • The acre serves as a standard unit of measurement for land area, which simplifies transactions and discussions regarding property size in real estate. By using acres, buyers and sellers can easily compare properties, assess value, and understand zoning regulations. This common understanding helps avoid confusion that might arise from using different units of measurement across various regions.
• Compare the acre to other units of area such as hectares and square feet in terms of usage and conversion.
  • The acre is often compared with hectares and square feet due to their common usage in land measurement. One acre equals 43,560 square feet, making it useful for smaller plots or detailed property descriptions. Conversely, one hectare equals 10,000 square meters or about 2.47 acres, making it more relevant in larger agricultural contexts. Understanding these conversions is important for professionals who operate across different regions with varying measurement preferences.
• Evaluate the historical significance of the acre as a land measurement unit from medieval times to its current applications.
  • Historically, the acre originated from medieval agricultural practices where it represented the amount of land that could be cultivated by an oxen team in a day. This practical definition has evolved but retains its importance in agriculture today. In modern times, the acre has become vital not only in farming but also in real estate development and urban planning. Recognizing its historical roots provides insight into how land use practices have changed over centuries while maintaining a consistent unit for area measurement.

Related terms

Square Foot: A square foot is a unit of area equal to a square that measures one foot on each side, commonly used in real estate and construction.

Hectare: A hectare is a metric unit of area equal to 10,000 square meters, commonly used in agriculture and forestry.

Parcel: A parcel refers to a specific piece of land, often described in terms of its dimensions and area, used in legal and real estate contexts.