An object is 9.6 cm long. What is the length in inches? ( 1 inch = 2.54 cm) Show calculation setup.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To convert 9.6 cm to inches, we use the given conversion factor:
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
Step-by-step Calculation Setup
We divide the length in centimeters by the number of centimeters in an inch:Length in inches=Length in cm2.54\text{Length in inches} = \frac{\text{Length in cm}}{2.54}Length in inches=2.54Length in cmLength in inches=9.62.54\text{Length in inches} = \frac{9.6}{2.54}Length in inches=2.549.6Length in inches≈3.78\text{Length in inches} ≈ 3.78Length in inches≈3.78
Final Answer:
9.6 cm ≈ 3.78 inches
Explanation
Converting between metric and imperial units involves using a conversion factor that relates one unit to another. In this case, we are given that 1 inch is equal to 2.54 centimeters. This means that every inch contains 2.54 cm. To go from centimeters to inches, we do the opposite of multiplication, which is division.
The object is 9.6 cm long. To find out how many inches that represents, we divide 9.6 by 2.54. This is because 1 inch holds 2.54 cm, so to find out how many groups of 2.54 cm fit into 9.6 cm, we divide.
Using a calculator or by hand:9.6÷2.54≈3.77959.6 ÷ 2.54 ≈ 3.77959.6÷2.54≈3.7795
This rounds to 3.78 inches when rounded to two decimal places, which is usually sufficient for most practical purposes.
This conversion is useful in many real-world situations, especially when dealing with measurements across different systems. For example, if you are ordering a part for a machine made in a country using imperial units but your measurements are in metric, knowing how to convert correctly ensures you get the right fit. Understanding this concept strengthens numerical fluency and helps in science, engineering, travel, and daily life. The more comfortable you are with unit conversions, the better equipped you are to work across international standards.
