What is 24 cm in inches?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To convert centimeters to inches, you can use the conversion factor that 1 inch is equal to 2.54 centimeters. Therefore, to convert 24 centimeters to inches, you can use the following formula:
[
\text{Inches} = \frac{\text{Centimeters}}{2.54}
]
Plugging in the value:
[
\text{Inches} = \frac{24}{2.54} \approx 9.45
]
Thus, 24 centimeters is approximately 9.45 inches.
Explanation of the Conversion Process
The need to convert measurements between different units arises frequently in various fields such as science, engineering, cooking, and everyday activities. The metric system, which includes centimeters, is used widely around the world, while the imperial system, which uses inches, is primarily used in the United States.
The metric system is decimal-based, which means it is more straightforward for calculations. A centimeter is one-hundredth of a meter, making it a smaller unit of measurement suitable for measuring lengths, heights, or widths of objects. Conversely, inches are part of the imperial system, where 12 inches make up a foot. This system is often seen as less intuitive because it doesn’t follow a consistent decimal structure.
To accurately convert centimeters to inches, knowing the exact conversion factor is essential. The factor of 2.54 comes from the definition of the inch in terms of centimeters. To illustrate this with an example: if a ruler measures 24 cm, to find out how long that is in inches, you divide 24 by 2.54, yielding approximately 9.45 inches.
This conversion is crucial in many practical applications. For example, in interior design, when measuring furniture dimensions, knowing the size in both metric and imperial units helps in selecting the right pieces to fit a space. Similarly, in fields like medicine and nutrition, precise measurements are vital for treatment and dosage calculations, emphasizing the importance of converting between these systems accurately.