Question

How do you convert 5 meters to centimeters?

Answer 1

`5 " metres" xx 100 = 500 " centimetres"`

Explanation:

The prefix 'cent' means 100. [Century is 100 years, `100c = $1`]

In `1 " metre "` there are `100 " centimetres"`

To change metres `rarr` cm, multiply by 100.

(move the decimal point 2 places to the right)

If you change to a smaller unit, the number gets bigger.

`5 " metres" xx 100 = 500 " centimetres"`

Answer 2

`5" metres "= 500" centimetres"`

Explanation:

Known: 1 metre is the same length as 100 centimetres

`color(brown)(1" metres"=100" centimetres")`

But we need 5 metres so we have to change the 1 metres into 5 metres.

For multiply of divide, what you do to one side you do to the other.

Multiply both sides by 5

`color(brown)(color(blue)(5xx)1" metres"=color(blue)(5xx)100" centimetres")`

`5" metres "= 500" centimetres"`