Skill: Convert between metric length units

Explanation and Free Practice Resources

Metric length conversion represents the same distance in different units—kilometers, meters, centimeters, and millimeters—through base-ten relationships such as 1 kilometer = 1,000 meters, 1 meter = 100 centimeters, and 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters. The quantity remains unchanged while its numerical value increases when expressed in smaller units and decreases in larger units, using powers of ten with whole numbers, decimals, or fractions; compound-unit rates and nonmetric conversions are outside this scope.

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Detailed Explanation: Convert between metric length units

Metric units measure the same length in different-sized units:

$1$ kilometer ( $\text{km}$ ) $= 1{,}000$ meters ( $\text{m}$ )
$1$ meter ( $\text{m}$ ) $= 100$ centimeters ( $\text{cm}$ )
$1$ centimeter ( $\text{cm}$ ) $= 10$ millimeters ( $\text{mm}$ )

When changing to a smaller unit, the number gets larger, so multiply. When changing to a larger unit, the number gets smaller, so divide.

Example: Convert $3.4$ meters to centimeters.

Meters are being changed to centimeters. Since centimeters are smaller units, multiply.
Use the conversion fact:

1\text{ m}=100\text{ cm}

Multiply:

3.4\times100=340

Write the new unit:

3.4\text{ m}=340\text{ cm}

So, $3.4$ meters is $340$ centimeters.

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Measurement Conversion - Metric Length Units (Common) with Decimals

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