Convert 25 miles to kilometers if 1 inch = 2.54 cm
The correct answer and explanation is:
To convert 25 miles to kilometers, we will break down the conversion process step by step. First, let’s consider the relationships we need:
1 mile is equivalent to 1,609.344 meters. Since 1 kilometer is equal to 1,000 meters, we can directly use this conversion factor to change miles to kilometers.
Step-by-step Conversion
- Starting with miles:
We know that 1 mile = 1,609.344 meters.
So, for 25 miles: 25 miles=25×1,609.344 meters=40,233.6 meters25 \, \text{miles} = 25 \times 1,609.344 \, \text{meters} = 40,233.6 \, \text{meters} - Convert meters to kilometers:
Since 1 kilometer = 1,000 meters, we divide the result by 1,000 to convert meters into kilometers: 40,233.6 meters=40,233.61,000 kilometers=40.2336 kilometers40,233.6 \, \text{meters} = \frac{40,233.6}{1,000} \, \text{kilometers} = 40.2336 \, \text{kilometers}
Thus, 25 miles is approximately equal to 40.23 kilometers.
Why the Conversion is Necessary
The reason we need to go through these steps is that miles and kilometers are units of length used in different measurement systems. The mile is part of the Imperial system (often used in the US and UK), while kilometers belong to the Metric system, which is used globally and is part of the International System of Units (SI).
The direct conversion from miles to kilometers involves knowing that 1 mile equals 1,609.344 meters. By converting to meters first, we ensure the result is in the metric system, making it easier to compare distances in different contexts, like when traveling internationally or in scientific contexts.
This conversion method highlights how precise measurements in the imperial system can be translated into the more widely-used metric system, ensuring consistency and accuracy in calculations.