What is the number of square centimeters in one square meter?

To determine the number of square centimeters in one square meter, it's essential to start by understanding the conversion between meters and centimeters.

One meter is equivalent to 100 centimeters. When converting square meters to square centimeters, we must square the conversion factor. So:

1 meter = 100 centimeters

Now, squaring both sides gives us:

(1 meter)² = (100 centimeters)²

This simplifies to:

1 square meter = 100² square centimeters = 10000 square centimeters.

Therefore, there are 10000 square centimeters in one square meter. This conversion reflects the principle that area, which is measured in square units, requires squaring the conversion factor from linear measurements. Thus, the correct answer is indeed 10000 cm².