Math Skill: Distance Conversion

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Distance Conversion

Here are useful units of measure to know

Length
Metric System		English System
1 meter (m)	= 1000 millimeters (mm)	1 foot (ft)	= 12 inches (in)
1 meter (m)	= 100 centimeters (cm)	1 yard (yd)	= 3 feet or 36 inches
1 kilometer (km)	= 1000 meters (m)	1 mile (mi)	= 1760 yards or 5280 feet
1 centimeter (cm)	= 10 millimeters (mm)

	2.54 centimeters (cm)	= 1 inch (in)

Example 1: Unit conversion (English system)

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.
48 in = ft
We know that 1 foot (ft) = 12 inches (in) so

48 in × = × = 4 ft

So, 48 in = ft

Example 2: Unit conversion (metric system)

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.
5 cm = mm
We know that 1 centimeter (cm) = 10 millimeters (mm) so

5 cm × = × = 50 mm

So, 5 cm = mm

Example 3: Unit conversion (English and metric systems)

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.
2 m = ft
To convert between the two systems, we know that 1 centimeter (cm) = 2.54 inches (in).
There are multiple steps: meters → centimeters → inches → feet
Step 1: Convert meters (m) to centimeters (cm) by multiplying 100 cm / 1 m

2 m ×

Step 2: Convert centimeters (cm) to inches (in) by multiplying 1 in / 2.54 cm

2 m × ×

Step 3: Convert inches (in) to feet (ft) by multiplying 1 ft / 12 in

2 m × × ×

Step 4: Solve the equation

2 m × × × =

2 m × × × = 6.6 ft

So, 2 m = ft

Complexity=4, Mode=english

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

1. 3 mi = yd

2. 4 ft = in

Complexity=6, Mode=english

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

1. 1 yd = ft

2. 1 mi = yd

Complexity=4, Mode=metric

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

1. 3 km = m

2. 3 km = m

Complexity=6, Mode=metric

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

1. 200 cm = m

2. 2 m = cm

Complexity=4, Mode=mixed

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

1. 2 km = m

2. 1 mi = yd

Complexity=6, Mode=mixed

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

1. 40 mm = cm

2. 4 m = cm

Complexity=2, Mode=complex

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

1. 2 mi = mm

2. 3218.7 m = mi

Complexity=3, Mode=complex

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

1. 304.8 mm = ft

2. 25.4 mm = in

Answers

Complexity=4, Mode=english

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
1	3 mi = yd
Solution 3 mi × (1,760 yd/1 mi) = 5280 yd

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
2	4 ft = in
Solution 4 ft × (12 in/1 ft) = 48 in

Complexity=6, Mode=english

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
1	1 yd = ft
Solution 1 yd × (3 ft/1 yd) = 3 ft

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
2	1 mi = yd
Solution 1 mi × (1,760 yd/1 mi) = 1760 yd

Complexity=4, Mode=metric

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
1	3 km = m
Solution 3 km × (1,000 m/1 km) = 3000 m

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
2	3 km = m
Solution 3 km × (1,000 m/1 km) = 3000 m

Complexity=6, Mode=metric

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
1	200 cm = m
Solution 200 cm × (1 m/100 cm) = 2 m

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
2	2 m = cm
Solution 2 m × (100 cm/1 m) = 200 cm

Complexity=4, Mode=mixed

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
1	2 km = m
Solution 2 km × (1,000 m/1 km) = 2000 m

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
2	1 mi = yd
Solution 1 mi × (1,760 yd/1 mi) = 1760 yd

Complexity=6, Mode=mixed

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
1	40 mm = cm
Solution 40 mm × (1 cm/10 mm) = 4 cm

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
2	4 m = cm
Solution 4 m × (100 cm/1 m) = 400 cm

Complexity=2, Mode=complex

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
1	2 mi = mm
Solution 2 mi × (63,360 in/1 mi) × (2.54 cm/1 in) × (10 mm/1 cm) = 3218688 mm

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
2	3218.7 m = mi
Solution 3218.7 m × (100 cm/1 m) × (1 in/2.54 cm) × (1 mi/63,360 in) = 2 mi

Complexity=3, Mode=complex

Do the following conversions. Round to nearest tenth where necessary.

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
1	304.8 mm = ft
Solution 304.8 mm × (1 cm/10 mm) × (1 in/2.54 cm) × (1 ft/12 in) = 1 ft

#	Correct Answer	Your Answer
2	25.4 mm = in
Solution 25.4 mm × (1 cm/10 mm) × (1 in/2.54 cm) = 1 in

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