Final answer:
To convert 48.2 centimeters to inches, divide by the conversion factor of 2.54 cm per inch, yielding approximately 18.98 inches when rounded to two decimal places.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the length of a newborn, in inches, when the measurement is given in centimeters, we use the conversion factor that 1 inch equals 2.54 centimeters. Therefore, to convert 48.2 centimeters into inches, we divide the number of centimeters by the conversion factor.
The calculation is as follows:
Length in inches = Length in centimeters ÷ Conversion factor
Length in inches = 48.2 cm ÷ 2.54 cm/in
Length in inches = 18.97637795 inches
Usually, we round the result to a reasonable number of decimal places. If we round to two decimal places, the newborn's length is approximately 18.98 inches.