simple way to convert metric lengths to imperial lengths in your head.

[beachcaster]

I know from experience that some people cannot relate centimeters to inches using mental arithmetic.
If you are old school, yards, feet and inches, you can convert centimeters to inches using a multiplication of 4.
i.e. 60 cms x 4 =240 remove the zero and using common sense reach a figure of 24 inches.
i.e. 10 cms x 4 =40 and once again remove the zero, a figure of 4 inches.
You should after all know that 1 metre or 100cms is just over 1 yard, that`s where the common sense comes in.
2.4 metres X 4 =9.6 ( 96 inches). 8 feet.
Use your imagination and it will help.
I hope this is of some use to those who just cannot relate to metric length.
Maybe you think I should shut the truck up and drive off into the sunset.
Best regards ....Alan

[PhotoLady]

All I remember is 12 inches = 30cm, then I have to work from there each time.

[Dominic]

Hey and 30 * 4 = 120, take off the 0 = 12.

It works!

[Bograt]

Very useful. I'm a bit caught between the two measurement systems as Metric came in when I was quite young. I intermingle both and often have to try and visualize one to t'other. A simple conversion like this is excellent, thank you.

[ApusApus]

Useful advice beachcaster!


Shane

[PaphosAL]

Don't think this works for longer distances, for example, converting 8km into miles. Everyone knows that the answer is 5 miles (divide by 8 then multiply by 5 in your head).

Using the OP formula, we would have 8,000 metres x 4 = 32,000

Knock off the final 0 and we're left with 3200. How does that equate to 5 miles?

Cheers- AL

[Paulo]

The OP is talking in cm not metres

[surreyboy]

8000 x 100 x 4 = 3,200,000
Knock off the final 0 gives 320,000 inches, which equals 5.05 miles.
So it does still work, albeit a bit long-winded.
Think I'll stick with the 5/8 rule for long distances!

[Mighty Sprite]

What I find interesting is that in the UK I can go to a wood yard and buy 2.4m of 2x4 i.e. 2" x 4", and everybody knows what I want! In fact most wood yards in Cyprus still understand 2x4 or other imperial sizes, although you get metric sized wood.

[beachcaster]

If my conversion means you need to use a calculator,forget it.
Everybody knows the kilometer / mile conversion, because it is well publicised.
My formula is now in your head for the first time. Use it.
Actually you already have.
Regards....Alan

[Dominic]

The weirdest one was dot matrix printer paper. That had one dimension in inches and the other in centimetres.

[beachcaster]

Mighty sprite. In Cyprus you buy timber with sectional dimensions in inches i.e. 4x2. But you have to buy it in metric lengths.
Regards....Alan.