Solving Word Problems with Multiple Unit Conversions

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PSAT Math › Solving Word Problems with Multiple Unit Conversions

Questions 1 - 2

1

How many $\textup{centimeters}$ are in $13\textup { meters?}$

$1\textup,300\textup { centimeters}$

$130\textup { centimeters}$

$1.3\textup{ centimeters}$

$.0013\textup { centimeters}$

$13\textup,000\textup { centimeters}$

Explanation

To solve this problem we can make proportions.

We know that $1\ centimeter= .01\ meters$ and we can use as our unknown.

$\frac{1\ centimeter}{.01\ meter}=\frac{x\ centimeters}{13\ meters}$

Next, we want to cross multiply and divide to isolate the on one side.

$1\ centimeter\times 13\ meters=.01\ meter\times x\ centimeters$

$\frac{1\ centimeter\times 13\ meters}{.01\ meter}= x\ centimeters$

The will cancel and we are left with $1,300\ centimeters$

2

How many $\textup { centimeters}$ are in $5\textup { meters?}$

$500\textup { centimeters}$

$50\textup { centimeters}$

$5\textup { centimeters}$

$5\textup,000\textup { centimeters}$

$1.5\textup { centimeters}$

Explanation

To solve this problem we can make proportions.

We know that $1\ centimeter= .01\ meters$ and we can use as our unknown.

$\frac{1\ centimeter}{.01\ meter}=\frac{x\ centimeters}{5\ meters}$

Next, we want to cross multiply and divide to isolate the on one side.

$1\ centimeter\times 5\ meters=.01\ meter\times x\ centimeters$

$\frac{1\ centimeter\times 5\ meters}{.01\ meter}= x\ centimeters$

The will cancel and we are left with $500\ centimeters$

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