Length Measurement Math Example 3

Follow the full solution, then compare it with the other examples linked below.

Example 3

medium
Convert 3.53.5 km to meters, then to centimeters.

Solution

  1. 1
    Recall the conversion: 1 km=1,000 m1\text{ km} = 1{,}000\text{ m}. Multiply: 3.5×1,000=3,500 m3.5 \times 1{,}000 = 3{,}500\text{ m}.
  2. 2
    Recall the conversion: 1 m=100 cm1\text{ m} = 100\text{ cm}. Multiply: 3,500×100=350,000 cm3{,}500 \times 100 = 350{,}000\text{ cm}.
  3. 3
    Alternatively, use the direct conversion: 1 km=100,000 cm1\text{ km} = 100{,}000\text{ cm}, so 3.5×100,000=350,000 cm3.5 \times 100{,}000 = 350{,}000\text{ cm}.

Answer

3,500 m=350,000 cm3{,}500 \text{ m} = 350{,}000 \text{ cm}
The metric system uses powers of 10, making conversions straightforward: multiply by 1,000 to go from km to m, and by 100 to go from m to cm. Chaining conversions is equivalent to multiplying by 100,000 directly.

About Length Measurement

Measuring how long something is using standard units (cm, m, in, ft) by finding the difference between start and end marks.

Learn more about Length Measurement →

More Length Measurement Examples

Example 1 easy

A pencil is measured using paper clips as units. It takes 5 paper clips placed end to end to match t

Example 2 medium

A bookshelf is 36 inches long. A book is 12 inches wide. How many books can fit side by side on the

Example 4 easy

A worm is 4 cubes long and a caterpillar is 7 cubes long. How much longer is the caterpillar?

Example 5 medium

A table is 48 inches long. A chair is 16 inches wide. How many chairs can line up along the table?

← All Length Measurement Examples Length Measurement Concept