Converting units of length can be a bit tricky at times, but as a mathematics expert, I am here to guide you through the process. In this case, we are looking to convert 48 inches to centimeters (cm).
Step 1: Understand the Equalities
Before diving into the conversion, it is important to understand the equalities involved in this conversion. The basic equality between inches and centimeters is 1 inch = 2.54 cm. This means that one inch is equivalent to 2.54 centimeters.
Step 2: Set up the Conversion Equation
Now that we know the basic equality, we can set up a conversion equation. In this case, it would look like this:
48 inches = ____ cm
Step 3: Cancel Out Units
The key to converting units is to cancel out the units that are the same on both sides of the equation. In this case, the unit that is the same on both sides is inches. We can cancel it out by dividing both sides by 1 inch, as shown below:
48 inches ÷ 1 inch = ____ cm ÷ 1 inch
Step 4: Use the Conversion Equality
Now that we have canceled out the inches, we are left with only centimeters on the right side of the equation. This is where we can use the conversion equality to solve for the missing value on the left side. Recall that 1 inch is equal to 2.54 centimeters, so we can replace 1 inch with 2.54 cm in the equation.
48 inches ÷ 1 inch = ____ cm ÷ 1 inch
48 inches ÷ 2.54 cm = ____ cm
Step 5: Solve for the Unknown Value
Solving for the unknown value is simply a matter of plugging in the numbers and performing the division operation. This will give us the final answer in centimeters.
48 inches ÷ 2.54 cm = 18.90 cm
Step 6: Check Your Answer
Always remember to check your answer to ensure accuracy. In this case, we can convert our answer back to inches using the conversion equality and see if we get the original value of 48 inches.
18.90 cm x 1 inch ÷ 2.54 cm = 48 inches
As we can see, the conversion is correct since our final answer is equal to the original value.
Conclusion: Congratulations, you have successfully converted 48 inches to centimeters. The final answer is 18.90 cm. Remember to follow these six steps whenever you need to convert units of length.