A piece of plastic tubing measures 120 mm. What is the length of the tubing in inches?
The correct answer and explanation is :
To convert the length of the plastic tubing from millimeters (mm) to inches, we need to use the conversion factor between millimeters and inches.
Conversion Formula:
1 inch = 25.4 mm.
Thus, to convert from millimeters to inches, we divide the length in millimeters by 25.4.
Step-by-Step Calculation:
- Given: The length of the tubing is 120 mm.
- Conversion Factor: 1 inch = 25.4 mm.
- Formula:
[
\text{Length in inches} = \frac{\text{Length in mm}}{25.4}
] - Substitute the values:
[
\text{Length in inches} = \frac{120}{25.4} \approx 4.7244
] - Result: The length of the tubing in inches is approximately 4.72 inches.
Explanation:
The conversion from millimeters to inches involves using a specific conversion factor that is based on the standard metric system. The millimeter (mm) is part of the metric system, and it is often necessary to convert between the metric and imperial systems, especially in regions that primarily use the inch for measurement. The most common conversion factor is that 1 inch equals 25.4 millimeters.
In this case, to convert 120 mm to inches, we divide the given measurement (120 mm) by 25.4 to get the length in inches. This method of dividing the millimeter value by 25.4 ensures that the result is in the correct unit of inches.
This calculation is particularly useful in various real-world scenarios, such as when you need to convert the dimensions of an object or a piece of material from the metric system (millimeters) to the imperial system (inches), such as for construction, engineering, or manufacturing purposes. Understanding how to convert between these units ensures that measurements are accurate and standardized across different systems of measurement.