Is 5 feet greater, less or equal than 60 inches?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Five feet is equal to 60 inches.
Here’s why:
1 foot is defined as 12 inches. To convert feet into inches, you simply multiply the number of feet by 12.
[
5 \, \text{feet} \times 12 \, \text{inches per foot} = 60 \, \text{inches}
]
Thus, 5 feet equals 60 inches.
Explanation
The relationship between feet and inches is based on the standard system of measurement, where one foot equals 12 inches. This is part of the U.S. customary and imperial systems of measurement. The foot as a unit of length has been used for centuries, originally derived from the approximate length of a human foot.
When comparing two units of measurement, like feet and inches, it’s crucial to first convert them into the same unit for a direct comparison. Since feet and inches are commonly used together, the conversion is straightforward: multiply the number of feet by 12 (since there are 12 inches in a foot).
In this case, 5 feet converts to 60 inches. Therefore, 5 feet is neither greater nor less than 60 inches but exactly equal to it.
Practical Use
Understanding this relationship is helpful in everyday scenarios, especially when measuring objects or spaces where both feet and inches might be used interchangeably. For example, if someone says a door is 5 feet tall, they are also saying it’s 60 inches tall. This equivalence is vital when using tools like rulers or measuring tapes, which may display both units.