Convert CM to Inches
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Convert CM to Inches in 3 Easy Steps
Free Step-by-Step Guide: How to Convert CM to Inches.
Learning how to convert cm to inches is an important math skill that everyone will benefit from, no matter what their age is. Knowing how to convert cm to inches will allow you to quickly and accurately make conversions between different systems of measurement. This free step-by-step guide will teach you how to convert cm to inches using an easy three step method. Together, we will learn how to us a cm to inches conversion formula, and we will work through a few practice problems of how to convert cm to inches.
To gain a deep understanding of this topic, we recommend that you work through each section of this guide in order. However, you can also use the table of contents below to jump to any section of this guide:
Table of Contents (Jump To):
Figure 01: Inches vs. Centimeters
Review: Convert CM to Inches
Before we learn how to convert cm to inches, let’s review some key vocabulary related to this topic.
What are centimeters (cm) and inches (in.)?
A centimeter is a metric unit of length that is equivalent to one hundredth of a meter. The abbreviation for centimeters is cm.
An inch is an imperial unit of length that is equivalent to one twelfth of a foot. The abbreviation for inches is in.
Note that most of the world uses the metric system of measurement, while the imperial system in most commonly used in the United States.
When we compare the metric system and the imperial system in terms of inches and centimeters, the cm to inches unit conversion is as follows:
1 inch equals 2.54 centimeters.
This relationship between inches and centimeters is shown in Figure 01 above.
CM to Inches Formula
Now that we understand the relationship between centimeters and inches, we are ready to learn the formula for how to convert cm to inches.
CM to Inches Conversion Formula:
Inches = Centimeters ÷ 2.54
So, whenever to have a length expressed in cm that you want to convert to inches, simple divide that length, in cm, by 2.54 (since one inch equals 2.54 centimeters), and then express your result in terms of inches.
Figure 02: How to convert cm to inches in 3 easy steps.
How to Convert CM to Inches in 3 Steps
You can use the conversion formula to solve any problem where you have to convert centimeters to inches by following these three easy steps:
Step 1: Identify the given length (in cm).
Step 2: Input that length into the conversion formula (inches = cm ÷ 2.54)
Step 3: Round your answer (if necessary) and express it in terms of inches.
For example, let’s convert 10 centimeter to inches using these three steps:
Step 1: Identify the given length (in cm).
The given length is 10 cm.
Step 2: Using the formula:
inches = cm ÷ 2.54
inches = 10 ÷ 2.54
inches = 3.937007874…
Step 3: Round your answer.
In most cases, you can make an accurate and correct conversion by rounding your answer to the nearest tenths decimal place.
Final Answer: 10 cm equals 3.94 inches.
Figure 02 above illustrates how we used the conversion formula to determine that 10 centimeters equals approximately 3.94 inches.
Now, let’s gain some more experience with converting cm to inches by working through some more practice problems.
CM to Inches Conversion Formula: inches = cm ÷ 2.54
CM to Inches: Example #1
Example #1: Convert 15 cm to inches
We can use our 3-step method to solve this problem as follows:
Step 1: Identify the given length (in cm).
For this example, the given length is 15 cm.
Step 2: Using the cm to inches conversion formula:
inches = cm ÷ 2.54
inches = 15 ÷ 2.54
inches = 5.9055118…
Step 3: Round your answer.
Finally, we can round our answer to the nearest tenths decimal place and conclude that:
Final Answer: 15 cm equals 5.90 inches.
Example #1 Solved: 15 cm equals 5.90 inches.
CM to Inches: Example #2
Example #2": Convert 19.5 cm to inches
We can solve this next example exactly the same way that we did Example #1
Step 1: For Example #2, the given length is 19.5 cm.
Step 2: Next, input 19.5 cm into the conversion formula as follows:
inches = cm ÷ 2.54
inches = 19.5 ÷ 2.54
inches = 7.677165…
Step 3: After rounding our result to 7.68, we can say that…
Final Answer: 19.5 cm equals 7.68 inches.
Example #2 Solved: 19.5 cm equals 7.68 inches
CM to Inches: Example #3
Example #3: A picture frame is 41 cm wide and 51 cm tall. What are the dimensions of the picture frame in inches? Round your answer to the nearest inch.
For our final example, we have to make to cm to inches conversions:
Convert 41 cm to inches; and
Convert 51 cm to inches
We can make the first conversion by using the cm to inches conversion formula as follows:
41 cm to inches
inches = cm ÷ 2.54
inches = 41 ÷ 2.54
inches = 16.1417…
41 cm equals approximately 16 inches
And, we can use the same approach to make the second conversion:
51 cm to inches
inches = cm ÷ 2.54
inches = 51 ÷ 2.54
inches = 20.07874
51 cm equals approximately 20 inches
Now that we have made both conversions, we can conclude that:
Final Answer: The approximate dimensions of the frame are 16 inches by 20 inches.
Example #3 Solved: The dimensions of the frame are 16 inches by 20 inches.
CM to Inches Chart
Now that you know how to easily convert cm to inches, it can be extremely handy to have access to a conversion chart so that you can quickly reference common conversions between centimeters and inches.
| cm | inches | conversion |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.39 | 1 ÷ 2.54 = 0.39 in |
| 2 | 0.79 | 2 ÷ 2.54 = 0.79 in |
| 3 | 1.18 | 3 ÷ 2.54 = 1.18 in |
| 4 | 1.57 | 4 ÷ 2.54 = 1.57 in |
| 5 | 1.97 | 5 ÷ 2.54 = 1.97 in |
| 6 | 2.36 | 6 ÷ 2.54 = 2.36 in |
| 7.5 | 2.95 | 7.5 ÷ 2.54 = 2.95 in |
| 9 | 3.54 | 9 ÷ 2.54 = 3.54 in |
| 10 | 3.94 | 10 ÷ 2.54 = 3.94 in |
| 11 | 4.33 | 11 ÷ 2.54 = 4.33 in |
| 12 | 4.72 | 12 ÷ 2.54 = 4.72 in |
| 13 | 5.12 | 13 ÷ 2.54 = 5.12 in |
| 14 | 5.51 | 14 ÷ 2.54 = 5.51 in |
| 15 | 5.91 | 15 ÷ 2.54 = 5.91 in |
| 16 | 6.30 | 16 ÷ 2.54 = 6.30 in |
| 17 | 6.69 | 17 ÷ 2.54 = 6.69 in |
| 18 | 7.09 | 18 ÷ 2.54 = 7.09 in |
| 19 | 7.48 | 19 ÷ 2.54 = 7.48 in |
| 20 | 7.87 | 20 ÷ 2.54 = 7.87 in |
| 21 | 8.27 | 21 ÷ 2.54 = 8.27 in |
| 22 | 8.66 | 22 ÷ 2.54 = 8.66 in |
| 23 | 9.06 | 23 ÷ 2.54 = 9.06 in |
| 24 | 9.45 | 24 ÷ 2.54 = 9.45 in |
| 25 | 9.84 | 25 ÷ 2.54 = 9.84 in |
| 26 | 10.24 | 26 ÷ 2.54 = 10.24 in |
If you want to have this chart on hand to make quick and accurate conversions anywhere you go, then click the link below to download your printable CM to Inches Conversion Chart PDF! Looking for Practice Worksheets?Download hundreds of free PDF Math Worksheets with complete answer keys. More Free Math Resources:
|
