Convert 5000 Centimeters to Kilometers: Metric Unit Conversion Problem

Q: Why can't I just divide 5000 by 100,000 directly?

You technically can, but the two-step method is much safer! It's easier to remember that 1m = 100cm and 1km = 1000m than to recall that 1km = 100,000cm.

Q: How do I remember which way to divide or multiply?

Think about the size: smaller units have bigger numbers. Since kilometers are much larger than centimeters, you should get a much smaller number when converting.

Q: What if I get confused about the conversion factors?

1 meter = 100 centimeters1 kilometer = 1000 metersWrite these down first, then work step by step!

Q: Is 0.05 km really that small?

Yes! $ 0.05 $ km is only 50 meters - about half the length of a football field. This shows why the answer makes sense for 5000 centimeters.

Q: Can I check my answer a different way?

Absolutely! Convert your answer back: $ 0.05 \times 1000 = 50 $ meters, then $ 50 \times 100 = 5000 $ centimeters. Perfect match!

Metric Conversion with Two-Step Process

$5000cm=?km$

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Understand the problem

$5000cm=?km$

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

Step 1: Convert centimeters to meters.
Step 2: Convert meters to kilometers.

Let us work through each step in detail:

Step 1: Convert centimeters to meters.
We know that $1 \, \text{m} = 100 \, \text{cm}$ . To convert 5000 centimeters to meters, we divide by 100:
$5000 \, \text{cm} \div 100 = 50 \, \text{m}$

Step 2: Convert meters to kilometers.
We know that $1 \, \text{km} = 1000 \, \text{m}$ . To convert 50 meters to kilometers, we divide by 1000:
$50 \, \text{m} \div 1000 = 0.05 \, \text{km}$

Therefore, the distance of 5000 centimeters is equivalent to $0.05 \, \text{km}$ .

Final Answer

$0.05$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Conversion Rule: Use two steps: centimeters to meters, then meters to kilometers
Technique: Divide by 100 first (5000÷100=50m), then by 1000 (50÷1000=0.05km)
Check: Work backwards: 0.05×1000×100 = 5000 centimeters ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Converting directly from centimeters to kilometers
Don't divide 5000 by 100,000 in one step = easy calculation errors! Students often forget the exact conversion factor or make arithmetic mistakes with large numbers. Always use the two-step method: cm→m→km for clarity and accuracy.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$$ 291cm^2=?m^2 $$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I just divide 5000 by 100,000 directly?

You technically can, but the two-step method is much safer! It's easier to remember that 1m = 100cm and 1km = 1000m than to recall that 1km = 100,000cm.

How do I remember which way to divide or multiply?

Think about the size: smaller units have bigger numbers. Since kilometers are much larger than centimeters, you should get a much smaller number when converting.

What if I get confused about the conversion factors?

1 meter = 100 centimeters
1 kilometer = 1000 meters
Write these down first, then work step by step!

Is 0.05 km really that small?

Yes! $0.05$ km is only 50 meters - about half the length of a football field. This shows why the answer makes sense for 5000 centimeters.

Can I check my answer a different way?

Absolutely! Convert your answer back: $0.05 \times 1000 = 50$ meters, then $50 \times 100 = 5000$ centimeters. Perfect match!

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