Originally Posted By: paul
put 4 in your calculator then hit the x^2 button.

4^2 = 16


You missed the whole point

4ft^2
= (4) * (ft^2)
<> (4*ft)^2

It's just the convention of math.

If you want to get 16 square feet then you should write
(4ft)^2
so people using the common convention know what you mean.