1 mile = 5,280 ft; 1 section = 640 acres = 1 sq mile
Before you read
Test yourself first: 5 questions
Question 1 of 5
A licensee wants to make telemarketing calls to prospective sellers. To comply with do-not-call rules, the licensee should FIRST:
Answer: B. Before making telemarketing calls, the caller must compare the list against the National Do-Not-Call Registry and remove registered numbers, unless an exception such as an established business relationship applies.
Question 2 of 5
The lot-and-block (recorded plat) system of legal description refers to a parcel by lot and block numbers shown on a:
Answer: B. The lot-and-block system identifies a parcel by its lot and block numbers as shown on a subdivision plat map that has been recorded in the public records.
Question 3 of 5
A rectangular lot is 150 ft by 120 ft. What is its area?
Answer: A. 150 × 120 = 18,000 square feet.
Question 4 of 5
A rectangular lot measures 120 feet by 150 feet. What is its area in square feet?
Answer: B. Area of a rectangle is length x width: 120 x 150 = 18,000 square feet.
Question 5 of 5
A lot is 100 feet wide and 200 feet deep. Expressed in acres (1 acre = 43,560 sq ft), the lot is closest to:
Answer: A. Area = 100 x 200 = 20,000 sq ft; 20,000 / 43,560 = 0.459, about 0.46 acre.
Keep the streak going with more questions like these, each with a full rationale.
Must-know rules
- 1 acre = 43,560 sq ft (memorize!)
- 1 mile = 5,280 ft; 1 section = 640 acres = 1 sq mile
- Rectangle: L × W; Triangle: ½ base × height
- Sq ft → acres: divide by 43,560
- Government survey: 'the NW¼ of the SE¼' = 640 ÷ 4 ÷ 4 = 40 acres (divide by each fraction's denominator)
Area & Acreage — The Magic Numbers: FAQs
Is Area & Acreage — The Magic Numbers on the real estate exam?
Yes. Real Estate Math is a scored domain on the real estate licensing exam, and this topic appears in the national portion.
Is this cheat sheet free?
Yes — every page on Cinna RE's resource library is free to read, print and share. The app adds practice questions, mock exams and a readiness score.
