Question

An insect is 3.5 millimeters long. Which expression finds the length of the insect in decimeters?

A) 3.5 times 100
B) 3.5 divided by 100
C) 3.5 divided by 10
D) 3.5 times 10
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Answer 1

To convert 3.5 millimeters to decimeters, divide by 100 since there are 100 millimeters in one decimeter, making the correct expression option B) 3.5 divided by 100.

Step-by-step explanation:

When converting millimeters to decimeters, it is important to understand the relationship between these units of measurement. There are 100 millimeters in a decimeter, so to convert from millimeters to decimeters, you must divide the length in millimeters by 100. Therefore, the correct expression to find the length of the insect in decimeters when it is 3.5 millimeters long is 3.5 divided by 100, which is option B) 3.5 divided by 100.

Keep in mind that when converting units of measurement, you will often be required to use a conversion factor, which is essentially a way to multiply the original measurement by 1 to change units without altering the value. In this case, the conversion factor from millimeters to decimeters is 1/100 or 0.01. This conversion simplifies the process and helps ensure accuracy in the calculations and develop a systematic approach for solving similar problems in the future.