How it works
A smaller unit fits more times into the same length. A meter is 100 centimeters.
Using a big unit gives a small number. A small unit gives a big number.
Pick a sensible unit: centimeters for a crayon, meters for a room.
Worked examples
Meters to centimeters
- A ribbon is 2 meters long. 1 meter is 100 centimeters.
- 100 + 100 = 200.
- The ribbon is 200 cm long.
Choose a unit
- A crayon is about 10 centimeters long. An inch is longer than a centimeter.
- Fewer of the longer unit fit along the crayon.
- The crayon is about 10 cm, or about 4 in.
A smaller unit gives a bigger number
- A room is 3 meters wide.
- In centimeters: 100 + 100 + 100 = 300.
- The same room is 300 cm wide: the smaller unit gives the bigger number.
A taste of the worksheet
These are the first problems of set A. The printable sheet has many more, with an answer key.
- This stick is 1 foot long. Each square is 1 inch. How many inches long is the stick? ___
- A ribbon is 1 meter long. How many centimeters long is it? ___