Metres and centimetres · Usually met around P2
Metres and centimetres
Metres × 100, then add the centimetres.
How to do it
Method
Metres × 100, then add the centimetres
3 m 25 cm: 3 × 100 + 25 = 325
Full working
3 × 100 = 300, 300 + 25 = 325
In full
1 m = 100 cm. To change metres to centimetres, multiply the metres by 100, then add the centimetres: 3 m 25 cm → 3 × 100 = 300, 300 + 25 = 325 cm. A quicker way is to write the two numbers side by side: 3 and 25 → 325. But the centimetres always take two digits, so put a 0 in front if needed: 3 m 5 cm → 3 and 05 → 305 cm, not 35. To change centimetres to metres, go the other way. In 325 cm, the last two digits (25) are the centimetres, and the 3 in front is the metres → 3 m 25 cm. A whole hundred, like 400 cm, is 4 m.
Worked examples
Have a go first, then open each one for the answer and the working.
Example 1
100 cm = ? m
Show the answer and working
Answer: 100 cm = 1 m
100 cm: 1 m = 100 cm, 100 ÷ 100 = 1
Example 2
138 cm = 1 m ? cm
Show the answer and working
Answer: 138 cm = 1 m 38 cm
138 cm: 1 m is 1 × 100 = 100 cm, 138 − 100 = 38
Example 3
482 cm = ? m 82 cm
Show the answer and working
Answer: 482 cm = 4 m 82 cm
482 cm: take off the 82 cm first, 482 − 82 = 400, 400 ÷ 100 = 4
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