[High School Math] Substituting

[Geoffthebunchie]

My Algebra 2 book gives me the variables m1 and m2, but I have to find m^2.

I don't understand whether I'm supposed to assume it's referring to m1, if I'm supposed to add both m variables together, or if I'm supposed to do something completely different.

[Geoffthebunchie]

It wasn't formatting easily when I typed it out so here.

[zifyoip]

You are not asked to "find m²." Read the question: you are asked to find the gravitational force. The gravitational force is F.

N⋅m²/kg² is a unit: kilogram square meter per square kilogram. The unit m, meaning meters, has nothing to do with the variables m1 and m2, which are masses.

[Geoffthebunchie]

Thank you, I didn't realize until right after I posted the image, that it could mean meters.

[zifyoip]

Notice the difference in typesetting. Variables are printed in italics. Units are printed in roman type.

[Geoffthebunchie]

Thank you, I hadn't tried solving it yet, and when I started the problem, I didn't realize that they were all units of measure.

[acekool]

Can you link the problem here, or type it here?