Final answer:
The dimensions of the table are 50 cm by 50 cm, with an area of 2500 cm² or 0.25 m², which is smaller than a square meter.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Pat measures a side of the small square table to be 5 strings in length, and one string equals 10 centimeters, then one side of the table is 5 strings × 10 centimeters/string = 50 centimeters. To find the area of the table, we square this measurement since the table is square: Area = side × side = 50 cm × 50 cm = 2500 square centimeters.
No, this area is not as large as a square meter. To convert square centimeters to square meters, we divide by 10,000 because 1 square meter equals 10,000 square centimeters. Therefore, the area in square meters is 2500 cm² ÷ 10,000 cm²/m² = 0.25 m², which is clearly smaller than a full square meter.