Converting Using Decimal Numbers

Sometimes when you convert metric units you don’t have a whole number answer.
When this happens, you end up with an answer that is a decimal. 

Let's work through an example.

1 mm = ______ cm

Since you are converting a smaller unit to a larger unit, you are going to divide. There
are 10 mm in one centimeter, so you are going to divide 1 by 10. You are dividing 1
whole into 10 parts.

1 ÷ 10 = 0.1 (one-tenth)
The answer is 0.1 cm.

Examples
Example 1
Earlier, you were given a problem about Mustafa and the race.

What is 575 meters in kilometers?

Convert 575 m to km

575 m = _______ km

First, determine if you are going from a smaller unit to a larger unit or a larger unit to a
smaller unit.

Smaller to larger

Next, use the appropriate rule.

575 ÷ 1000
Then, write the value.

0.575

The answer is 0.575. Mustafa runs 0.575 kilometers.

Example 2
Convert 1 m to km.

1 m = ______ km
First, determine if you are going from a smaller unit to a larger unit or from a larger unit
to a smaller unit.

Smaller to larger

Next, use the appropriate rule.

1 ÷ 1000 = 0.001
Then, write the value.

0.001

The answer is 0.001.

Example 3
Convert 2 m to km.

2 m = ______ km

First, determine if you are going from a smaller unit to a larger unit or from a larger unit
to a smaller unit.

Smaller to larger

Next, use the appropriate rule.

2 ÷ 1000
Then, write the value.

0.002

The answer is 0.002 km.

Example 4
Convert 8 mm to cm.

8 mm = ______ cm

First, determine if you are going from a smaller unit to a larger unit or from a larger unit
to a smaller unit.

Smaller to larger

Next, use the appropriate rule.

8 ÷ 10
Then, write the value.

0.8

The answer is 0.8 cm.

Example 5
Convert 4 cm to m.

4 cm = ______ m

First, determine if you are going from a smaller unit to a larger unit or from a larger unit
to a smaller unit.

Smaller to larger

Next, use the appropriate rule.

4 ÷ 100
Then, write the value.

0.04

The answer is 0.04.

Review
Write each decimal conversion. Round to the nearest hundredth when necessary.

1. 1 mm = ______ cm

2. 5 mm = ______ cm

3. 10 mm = ______ cm

4. 15 mm = ______ cm

5. 8 cm = ______ m

6. 9 cm = ______ m

7. 11 cm = ______ m

8. 22 cm = ______ m
9. 12 m = ______ km

10. 8 m = ______ km

11. 22 mm = ______ cm

12. 225 mm = ______ cm

13. 543 mm = ______ cm

14. 987 mm = ______ cm

15. 1234 mm = ______ cm