How to Convert Centimeters to Fractions of Inches
A centimeter and an inch are units used to measure distance. For example, a book may be 8 1/2 inches or 21.6 centimeters long. A centimeter is part of the metric system. Measuring devices, such as rulers and tape measures, often use centimeters and inches as units of measurement. These devices often divide inches into fractions of halves, fourths, eighths and 16ths. Centimeters are divided into tenths. If you know the length of an object in centimeters, you can convert its length into its equivalent measurement in fractions of inches.
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Instructions
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Convert a number in centimeters to inches by multiplying by 0.394. For example, to convert 1.8 centimeters to inches, multiply 1.8 by 0.394 on a calculator. This equals 0.7 inches rounded to the tenths place.
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Convert 0.7 into a fraction by placing 7 over a denominator of 10, which is the corresponding denominator for the tenths place. This equals 7/10.
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Multiply the denominator by 1.6 to convert the fraction into 16ths, which is one of the fractions commonly used on rulers and tape measures -- 10 times 1.6 equals 16.
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Multiply the numerator by the 1.6 -- 7 times 1.6 equals 11.2.
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Round the numerator to the nearest whole number -- 11.2 rounds to 11.
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Place the numerator over the denominator of 16. This equals 11/16 inches, which is 1.8 centimeters converted to a fraction of an inch.
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Tips & Warnings
You can convert the fraction into 32nds or 64ths if your ruler or tape measure uses that measurement.
These steps produce an approximation of a centimeter's equivalent fraction in inches as a result of rounding.
References
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; How Many? A Dictionary of Units of Measurement -- I; Russ Rowlett
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; How Many? A Dictionary of Units of Measurement -- C; Russ Rowlett
- New Mexico State University; Measuring; Patrick J. Morandi
- Cliffs Notes: Renaming Fractions
- Bellevue College: The Mysteries of the Inch Revealed
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
