To convert 18 inches to centimeters, we will use the conversion factor of 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters. This means that for every inch, there are 2.54 centimeters.
Step 1: Write down the given measurement.
We start by writing down the given measurement, which is 18 inches. It is important to include the unit of measurement to avoid confusion.
18 inches
Step 2: Write down the conversion factor.
Next, we write down the conversion factor that we will use to convert inches to centimeters.
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
Step 3: Set up the conversion equation.
To convert from inches to centimeters, we will use the following equation:
inches x conversion factor = centimeters
Step 4: Substitute the values in the equation.
We substitute the given measurement into the equation we just created.
18 inches x 1 inch = 18 inches
18 inches x 2.54 centimeters = 45.72 centimeters
Step 5: Cancel out the units.
Since we want to convert inches to centimeters, we need to cancel out the unit of inches. This can be done by setting up a ratio of inches to centimeters.
18 inches x 2.54 centimeters
= 18 inches x 2.54 centimeters
1 inch
Step 6: Simplify the equation.
We can simplify the equation by canceling out the unit of inches, leaving us with the unit of centimeters.
18 x 2.54 centimeters = 45.72 centimeters
Step 7: Write the final answer.
We have successfully converted 18 inches to centimeters. Therefore, the final answer is:
18 inches = 45.72 centimeters
Step 8: Check the answer.
To ensure that our answer is correct, we can use a calculator to multiply 18 by 2.54. The answer should be 45.72, which is the value we obtained after converting from inches to centimeters. This means that our answer is accurate.
In summary, to convert 18 inches to centimeters, we use the conversion factor of 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters and follow the steps explained above. This method can be applied to convert any unit of length to another unit of length as long as the conversion factor is known.