A person is 175 cm tall. What is his height in meters?
The correct answer and explanation is :
To convert 175 centimeters (cm) to meters (m):
Correct Answer:
1.75 meters
Detailed Explanation (300+ words):
The metric system is based on powers of ten, making conversions between units straightforward. The meter (m) is the base unit for length in the metric system, and centimeters (cm) are a smaller unit. Specifically:
1 meter = 100 centimeters
This means there are 100 centimeters in 1 meter. So, to convert from centimeters to meters, you divide the number of centimeters by 100. Let’s apply this to the question:
- Given height: 175 cm
- To convert to meters:
[
\text{Meters} = \frac{\text{Centimeters}}{100} = \frac{175}{100} = 1.75 \text{ meters}
]
So, a person who is 175 cm tall is 1.75 meters tall.
Why This Matters:
Understanding how to convert between metric units is essential in many areas of study and professional practice—especially in science, healthcare, engineering, and daily life. For example, in the medical field, a patient’s height might be recorded in centimeters, but many calculations, such as Body Mass Index (BMI), use meters. Accurate conversion ensures correct results and safety in care.
Helpful Tip:
To go from centimeters to meters, move the decimal point two places to the left, because 100 has two zeros.
Example:
- 175 cm → 1.75 m
- 120 cm → 1.20 m
- 60 cm → 0.60 m
To go the other way—from meters to centimeters—you would multiply by 100 (or move the decimal point two places to the right).
Conclusion:
A person who is 175 cm tall is exactly 1.75 meters tall. This simple conversion demonstrates the convenience of the metric system, especially for calculations involving height, distance, or length.