Skill: Convert metric length units

Explanation and Free Practice Resources

Metric length conversion involves interpreting millimeters, centimeters, meters, and kilometers as equivalent units related by powers of ten, and using those relationships to express a given length in a different unit. Quantities may be represented with whole numbers, decimals, or simple fractions; converting to a smaller unit increases the numerical value, while converting to a larger unit decreases it, preserving the measured length. More complex unit systems and advanced dimensional analysis are not included.

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Detailed Explanation: Convert metric length units

Metric length units are related by powers of $(10)$ :

1\text{ m}=100\text{ cm}, \qquad 1\text{ cm}=10\text{ mm}, \qquad 1\text{ km}=1{,}000\text{ m}

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

Example: Convert $(2.4)$ meters to centimeters.

Meters are larger than centimeters, so the number will increase.
Since $(1\text{ m}=100\text{ cm})$ , multiply by $(100)$ :

2.4\text{ m}\times 100=240\text{ cm}

Therefore,

\boxed{2.4\text{ m}=240\text{ cm}}

Moving from meters to centimeters shifts the decimal point two places to the right because there are $(100)$ centimeters in one meter.

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Measurement Conversion - Metric Length Units (All) with Decimals

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