Compare Measurements: Is 40 mm Greater Than 5 cm?

Unit Conversion with Millimeter-Centimeter Comparison

Which is larger?

40 mm ⬜ 5 cm

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1

Understand the problem

Which is larger?

40 mm ⬜ 5 cm

2

Step-by-step solution

To determine which measurement is larger, we'll convert the measurement in centimeters to millimeters to make a direct comparison:

  • Step 1: Convert 5 centimeters to millimeters.

Using the conversion ratio, 1 cm = 10 mm, we find:

5cm×10mmcm=50mm 5 \, \text{cm} \times 10 \, \frac{\text{mm}}{\text{cm}} = 50 \, \text{mm}

  • Step 2: Compare the two measurements.

Now we compare 40 mm and 50 mm:

40mm 40 \, \text{mm} is less than 50mm 50 \, \text{mm} .

Therefore, 40 mm is less than 5 cm when both are expressed in millimeters.

So the correct answer is:

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3

Final Answer

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Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Conversion Rule: 1 cm equals 10 mm for all metric conversions
  • Technique: Convert 5 cm to millimeters: 5×10=50 mm 5 \times 10 = 50 \text{ mm}
  • Check: Compare same units: 40 mm < 50 mm confirms the correct answer ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Comparing different units directly without converting
    Don't compare 40 mm to 5 cm without converting = wrong answer! You can't directly compare measurements in different units because they have different scales. Always convert both measurements to the same unit first.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Convert to meters:
\( 40 \) cm

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I just compare 40 and 5 since 40 is bigger?

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You can't compare the numbers alone because they represent different units! It's like comparing 40 pennies to 5 dollars - the units matter. Always convert to the same unit first.

Should I always convert to the smaller unit?

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Not necessarily! You can convert either way. Convert 5 cm to 50 mm OR convert 40 mm to 4 cm. Both methods work - just pick one and stick with it.

How do I remember the conversion between cm and mm?

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Think of it this way: milli means "one thousandth," so millimeters are smaller. There are 10 millimeters in 1 centimeter - just like 10 dimes in 1 dollar!

What if I forget which direction to convert?

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Pick the unit that makes sense to you! If you're more comfortable with millimeters, convert everything to mm. If centimeters feel easier, convert everything to cm. Either way works perfectly.

Can I use decimals instead of whole numbers?

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Absolutely! Converting 40 mm to centimeters gives you 4.0 cm. Then compare: 4.0 cm<5.0 cm 4.0 \text{ cm} < 5.0 \text{ cm} . Same answer, different approach!

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