SOLUTION: Working with my 15 yr old, we're trying to figure out the FORMULA for "using 2 unit multipliers" to convert 35cm to inches. We don't need the actual answer. Looking through her a

Question 611996: Working with my 15 yr old, we're trying to figure out the FORMULA for "using 2 unit multipliers" to convert 35cm to inches. We don't need the actual answer. Looking through her algebra book, I find no example of converting cm to inches.
Thanks,
Dad (that hasn't taken math in 20 yrs) of 15 yr old
Dennis Hall
Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, solver91311:
Answer by Alan3354(69443) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
unit multipliers" to convert 35cm to inches. We don't need the actual answer. Looking through her algebra book, I find no example of converting cm to inches.
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1 inch = 2.54 cm (exactly)
---- 35*(1/2.54) = # of inches
I don't see why you need 2 multipliers

Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Using 2 unit multipliers to convert from centimeters to inches is a lot like piling up a mountain so that you have something through which to dig a tunnel. Dumb. But dumber still is not following instructions, n'est-ce pas?

The straight up way to do it is to just note that there are approximately 2.54 centimeters in every inch. So each 2.54 centimeter unit contained in 35 centimeters would be equivalent to 1 inch, leaving you with the multiplication problem:

and notice that when you perform the multiplication, the cm units, one in the numerator and one in the denominator cancel leaving you with inches as your unit.

However, since you are required to use two unit multipliers, let's just go the easiest route. We know that there are 10 millimeters in 1 centimeter, and we can look up the fact that there are approximately 25.4 millimeters in 1 inch. The conversion then looks like this:

Here both the cm units and the mm units cancel and you are left with inches in the numerator -- which is what you wanted.

And finally, the fast way to check your answer is to Google "35 cm in inches"

John

My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it

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