Decimal Measurements

In this article, we will learn everything about decimal measurements and we will introduce you to practical methods that will help you convert one measurement to another and even compare them easily. Shall we start?

First, you should know that we will focus on the primary measurements: millimeters, centimeters, and meters or, abbreviating, mm, cm, and m.

The mm measurement unit: is used to measure very small sizes like the length of an ant.
The cm measurement unit: is used to measure slightly larger sizes like the length of a computer or geometric figures.
The meter measurement unit: is used to measure large sizes like the length of a room.

It is important to know the relationship between the different measurements:

$1$ mm = $10$  cm
$100$  cm = $1$ meter
$1$ m = $1000$ mm = $100$ cm

And in practice:
To convert from mm to cm we divide by $10$
To convert from cm to m we divide by $100$
To convert from mm to m we divide by $1000$

Decimal measurements are measurements that appear in the form of a decimal number.
For example $1.5$ meters, $143.2$ cm, or $65$ mm.
In order for us to compare them, it is crucial that we convert them to the same unit of measurement.

We will always look for the largest unit of measure among those given to us and convert the others to it.
We will rely on the conversion relationship we noted earlier and thus we will be able to compare the numbers easily.

Place the appropriate sign = , < ,> 
$145.6$ cm ______ $1.5$ meters

Solution:
We will always prefer to convert to the larger unit of measure between the $2$ given measurements.
In this exercise, the larger unit of measure is the meter, therefore, we will want to convert $145.6$ cm to meters.

How will we do it?
Let's look at the list of relationships between the units, from cm to m $1$ meter –> $100$ cm
Therefore, we must divide $145.6$ by $100$
*If you don't know how to easily divide decimal numbers by $10$, $100$ or $1,000$, you can find everything in the corresponding article and then come back here.
After dividing we obtained $1.456$ meters.
Now let's compare the numbers again, having both in the same unit of measure -> meters:

$1.456$ meters __<___$1.5$
The answer will be (how to compare decimal numbers is explained in the article Decimal Number Comparison)

Place the appropriate sign = , < ,> 
$20$ cm______ $0.2$ meters

Solution:
Let's find the largest unit of measure between the $2$ given measurements -> meters
Let's convert the given number in centimeters to meters: $20$ cm to meters:
$20:100=0.2$
Let's write the exercise again:
$0.2$ meters_____ $0.2$ meters
The answer is $=$

Pablo's height is $1.43$ meter and Daniel's is $177$ cm.
What is the height difference between Pablo and Daniel?

a - $0.34$ cm
b - $0.34$ meter
c - $34$ mm

Solution:
We will act according to the steps learned and convert the number with the smaller unit of measure to the larger unit of measure given.
$177$ cm are $1.77$ meter
$177:100=1.7$
Now let's calculate the difference between $1.77$ meter (Daniel's height) and $1.48$ meter (Pablo's height) and we will get:
$1.77-1.48=0.34$

Attention: the calculation of the difference was made in meters, therefore, the difference is also given in meters and the correct answer is $b$ –> $0.34$ meter.