Kathryn is 1.55 m tall. Convert the height to feet. Round to the nearest tenth. Recall that 1ft=12in, 1in=2.54cm , and 1m=100cm.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To convert Kathryn’s height from meters to feet, we can follow a series of unit conversions using the provided relationships:
- Convert meters to centimeters: Since 1 meter is equivalent to 100 centimeters, we multiply Kathryn’s height in meters by 100 to convert it to centimeters:
[
1.55 \, \text{m} \times 100 \, \text{cm/m} = 155 \, \text{cm}
] - Convert centimeters to inches: Next, we need to convert centimeters to inches. We know that 1 inch is equal to 2.54 centimeters. To convert from centimeters to inches, we divide the height in centimeters by 2.54:
[
155 \, \text{cm} \div 2.54 \, \text{cm/in} \approx 61.024 \, \text{in}
] - Convert inches to feet: Since there are 12 inches in a foot, we divide the height in inches by 12 to convert it to feet:
[
61.024 \, \text{in} \div 12 \, \text{in/ft} \approx 5.0853 \, \text{ft}
] - Round to the nearest tenth: Finally, we round the result to the nearest tenth. The first decimal place is 0, so rounding 5.0853 to the nearest tenth gives us 5.1.
Thus, Kathryn’s height is approximately 5.1 feet.
Explanation of Conversions
Height conversion from meters to feet involves understanding the relationships between different units of measurement. The metric system (meters, centimeters) and the imperial system (inches, feet) require conversion factors. For instance, since 1 meter is defined as 100 centimeters, it is essential to convert meters to centimeters first for accuracy. The next step, converting centimeters to inches, utilizes the conversion factor of 2.54 centimeters per inch, which is crucial because inches are smaller units than centimeters.
After finding the height in inches, we convert to feet, knowing that there are 12 inches in a foot. This systematic approach ensures that each conversion step is clear and leads to an accurate final measurement. Rounding to the nearest tenth is a common practice in everyday situations, particularly when measurements are expressed in feet, making the final height of 5.1 feet more user-friendly for general use. These conversion skills are valuable in various practical applications, including personal height measurements, furniture dimensions, and more.