Unit Conversion

Converting units is a very natural thing, if you understand the procedure. For example, convert 3 meters into centimeters. Well we all know that there are 100 centimeters in 1 meter, so the answer is easy. Well lets still do it in detail. So heres the procedure; on the left side write what you are given, and on the right write the units you want to get to.

3 meters

centimeters

Where the number in dotted line is the answer, and in numerator and denominator of the solid line goes the conversion factor. So we know that 1 meter = 100 centimeters, or in another words the fractions
1 meter 100 centimeters 100 centimeter 1 meter

and

are equal to number 1, without

any units. Multiplying by 1 doesnt change anything, and we can use those fractions to convert units. Now we have to ask which one? Well since we are converting meters into centimeters, we chose the fraction that has the units meters on the bottom. Meaning, the units should cancel properly. 100 centimeter = 300 centimeters 1 meter

3 meters

Note that units of meter cancel and you are left with units of centimeter. Now if we were to convert centimeters to meters we would have to use the other fraction. See the example below. 1 meter 3 = meters 100 centimeters 100

3 centimeters

In this case centimeters cancel and we left with meters.

Now what if we wanted to convert 6 meters into f eet?

Well we know that

2.54 centimeter = 1 inch and 12 inch = 1 f oot. So we convert meters into centimeter, then centimeters into inches, and nally inches into f eet. First write down what you have and where you need to get to, leaving a lot of empty space in between for all of the conversion factors.

6 meters

f eet

Next we plug in all the conversion factors.

6 meters

1 inch 1f oot 100 centimeter = 1 meter 2.54 centimeter 12 inch

f eet

All units cancel except for f eet. Then we simple multiply/devide all numbers and we are done. Similarly, if we are to convert seconds to hour. How about converting 10m2 to units of centimeters. First of all, since meters are squared, we have no choice but to get nal units to be centimeter squared. There can be no ambiguity there. We should naturally get centimeters squared in the other side. 10m2 cm2
m s

to m.p.h, we simply convert meters to miles and

But what about the conversion factor? Well we still use the same conversion factor, but slightly dierently. Look at the equation below. 10m2 100 cm = 1m cm2

Could it be true? No! We need to cancel two meter and the conversion factor only has one. So lets multiply once again with this conversion factor. 10m2 100 cm 100 cm = 1m 1m cm2

Now we have enough meter on bottom to cancel meters on top. In another word we have 10m2 100 cm 1m
2

= 10m2

10000 cm2 = 100000cm2 1 m2

Another way to see this is as following. We have 1m = 100cm. If we square both sides we get 1m 1m = 100cm 100cm, then we have 1m2 = 10000cm2 . Same ideas apply in changing meters cubed to f eet cubed.