Basic Mathematics for College Students

Use a conversion chart to convert metric units of length.

In Example 3, we converted 350 centimeters to meters using a unit conversion factor.
We can also make this conversion by recognizing that all units of length in the metric
system are powers of 10 of a meter.
To see this, review the table of metric units of length on page 456. Note that each
unit has a value that is of the value of the unit immediately to its left and 10 times
the value of the unit immediately to its right. Converting from one unit to another is
as easy as multiplying (or dividing) by the correct power of 10 or, simply moving a
decimal point the correct number of places to the right (or left). For example, in the
conversion chartbelow, we see that to convert from centimeters to meters, we move
2 places to the left.

largest unit smallest unit

To go from centimeters to meters,
we must move 2 places to the left.
If we write 350 centimeters as 350.0 centimeters, we can convert to meters by
moving the decimal point 2 places to the left.

Move 2 places to the left.

With the unit conversion factor method or the conversion chart method, we get
350 cm 3.5 m.

Caution!When using a chart to help make a metric conversion, be sure to list

the units fromlargest to smallestwhen reading from left to right.

350.0 centimeters3.500 meters 3.5 meters



km hm dam m dm cm mm

1

10

4

5.4 Metric Units of Measurement 459

To perform the conversion, we multiply 350 centimeters by the unit conversion
factor.

Write 350 cm as a fraction: 350 cm .

Multiply by a form of 1:.

Multiply the fractions.

Thus, 350 centimeters 3.5 meters.



Divide 350.0 by 100 by moving the decimal

 3.5 m point 2 places to the left: 3.500.

Write the whole number 350 as a decimal by

placing a decimal point immediately to its

right and entering a zero: 350 350.0



350.0

100

m



350

100

m

Remove the common units of centimeters from the

numerator and denominator. Notice that the units

of meter remain.



350 cm

1



1 m

100 cm

1 m

100 cm^

350 cm

350 cm350 cm^1

1

# 1 m

100 cm

1 m

100 cm

EXAMPLE (^4) Convert 2.4 meters to millimeters.
StrategyOn a conversion chart, we will count the places and note the direction
as we move from the original units of meters to the conversion units of millimeters.
WHYThe decimal point in 2.4 must be moved the same number of places and in
that same direction to find the conversion to millimeters.
Self Check 4
Convert 5.3 meters to
millimeters.
Now TryProblem 35