Converting units of length can be confusing and time-consuming. However, with the right knowledge and steps, it can be a breeze. In this case, we will be converting 4 inches to millimeters (mm).
Step 1: Understand the relationship between inches and millimeters
Before we begin the conversion, it is important to understand the relationship between the two units. Inches and millimeters are both units of length, but they belong to different measuring systems. An inch is a unit of measurement in the imperial system, commonly used in the United States, while millimeters are part of the metric system, used widely all over the world.
Step 2: Know the conversion factor
To convert inches to millimeters, we need to use a conversion factor. This conversion factor is the number by which we will multiply the measurement in inches to get the equivalent value in millimeters. The conversion factor in this case is 25.4 mm/inch. This value is derived by converting 1 inch to millimeters, which is equal to 25.4 mm.
Step 3: Set up the conversion expression
Now that we know the conversion factor, we can set up the conversion expression. We will use the following formula: millimeters = inches x conversion factor. To convert 4 inches to millimeters, our formula will look like this:
millimeters = 4 inches x 25.4 mm/inch
Or we can simply write it as: mm = 4 in x 25.4.
Step 4: Compute the conversion
We now have all the information we need to convert 4 inches to millimeters. We will simply substitute 4 in for inches in our formula:
mm = 4 in x 25.4
= 101.6 mm
Therefore, 4 inches is equal to 101.6 millimeters.
Step 5: Double check your answer
It is always a good idea to double check your answer to ensure that it is correct. In this case, we can divide our answer of 101.6 by the conversion factor of 25.4 and see if we get our original value of 4 inches.
101.6 mm รท 25.4 mm/inch = 4 in
Since we do get 4 inches, we can be confident that our conversion is correct.
Step 6: Conclusion
We have successfully converted 4 inches to millimeters using the conversion factor method. Remember, the key is to understand the relationship between the units and use the correct conversion factor. By following these steps and practicing, you can become an expert in converting units of length.