Question

What is 52 inches in meters?

Answer 1

1.321 meters

Explanation:

1 inch= 0.0254 meters
multiply 52 by 0.0254
=1.321 meters

Answer 2

`52" inches "= 1.321" metres to 3 decimal places"`

Explanation:

`color(red)("This is where the shortcut method comes from")`

If my memory serves me correctly

1 metre = `3"ft "3 3/8" inches" ->39.375" inches"`

`color(red)("Using ratio")`

`("metres")/("inches")->1/39.375 = ("answer")/52`

To change 39.375 to 52 we do `39.375xx52/39.375`

To maintain the correct proportions in a ratio what we do to the bottom we also do to the top (for multiply and divide)

`("metres")/("inches")->(color(red)(1xx52/39.375))/(cancel(39.375)xx52/(cancel(39.375))) = ("answer")/52`

So the answer is:`" "color(red)(52/39.375 = 1.32063....."`

So `52" inches "= 1.321" metres to 3 decimal places"`