Example: The width of a particular table measures 58. 75 centimeters. What is the width of the same table when taken in millimeters?

The “millimeter” is a smaller unit than the “centimeter,” even though both are derived from the basic “meter. " When you convert any larger metric unit to a smaller one, you must multiply the original value. Example: 58. 75 cm * 10 = 587. 5 mm The width of the table in the problem is 587. 5 millimeters.

Example: The height of a certain door is 1780. 9 millimeters. Find the height of the same door when described in centimeters.

The “centimeter” is larger than the “millimeter,” and whenever you need to convert a smaller metric unit to a larger one, you must divide the original value. Example: 1780. 9 mm / 10 = 178. 09 cm The height of the door in this problem is 178. 09 centimeters.

Example: The length of a certain television screen is 32. 4 centimeters. Find the length of the same screen in millimeters.

Moving the decimal point of a number to the right increases its value, and every place holder shift equals a value of 10. As such, shifting the decimal to the right once will increase the resulting value by a factor of 10. Example: Moving the decimal point in “32. 4” to the right once would result in a value of “324. 0,” so the length of the screen in this problem equals 324. 0 millimeters.

Example: The height of a particular chair measures 958. 3 millimeters. What is the height of the same chair in centimeters?

Moving the decimal point to the left makes the resulting value smaller, and each decimal place holder represents a factor of 10. This means that shifting the decimal one place to the left will decrease the resulting value by a factor of 10. Example: Moving the decimal point in “958. 3” to the left once would result in a value of “95. 83,” so the height of the chair in this problem measures 95. 83 centimeters.

Mathematical Conversion: 184 cm * 10 = 1840 mm Decimal Shift: 184. 0 cm => shift the decimal to the right once => 1840 mm

Mathematical Conversion: 90. 5 mm / 10 = 9. 05 cm Decimal Shift: 90. 5 mm => shift the decimal to the left once => 9. 05 cm

Mathematical Conversion: 72. 6 cm * 10 = 726 mm Decimal Shift: 72. 6 cm => shift the decimal to the right once => 726 mm

Mathematical Conversion: 315 mm / 10 = 31. 5 cm Decimal Shift: 315. 0 mm => shift the decimal to the left once => 31. 5 cm