Question

Distance Conversions The United States, Liberia, and Myanmar are the only three countries that have not adopted the metric system as its primary system of measurement. There have been reports and legislation calling for a conversion to the metric system since the 1960s. The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology wrote that "industrial and commercial productivity, mathematics and science education, and the competitiveness of American products and services in world markets, will be enhanced by completing the change to the metric system of units" (1997, 2). From a student's perspective, it would be better if the U.S. converted to the metric system. Because scientists globally use the metric system, most of U.S. scientists do, as well. Until the U.S. "metrifies", students in the United States will need to continue to use and understand both measurement systems. 6. Refer to Appendix 2.1. Show your calculations for the following questions. 33 | Lab 2: Map Interpretation a. 2 miles contain how many feet? b. 1 mile contains how many inches? c. 10 kilometers contain how many meters? d. 1 kilometer contains how many centimeters? e. How many miles are in a "5k" (five-kilometer) race? f. A marathon is 26.2 miles. How many kilometers is this?

Answer 1

a. 10560

b. 63360 in.

c. 10000 m

d. 100000 cm

e. 3.107 miles

f. 42.165 km

Explanation:

a. 2 miles contain how many feet?

1 mile = 5280 ft

2 miles × 5280 ft / mile = 10560 ft

b. 1 mile contains how many inches?

1 ft = 12 in

1 mile × 5280 ft/mile × 12 in./ft = 63360 in.

c. 10 kilometers contain how many meters?

1 km = 1000 m

10 km × 1000 m/km = 10000 m

d. 1 kilometer contains how many centimeters?

1 km × 1000 m/km × 100 cm/m = 100000 cm

e. How many miles are in a "5k" (five-kilometer) race?

1 in. = 2.54 cm

5 km =

= 5 km × 1000 m/km × 100 cm/m × 1 in. / (2.54 cm) × 1 ft / (12 in.) × 1 mile / (5280 ft)

= 3.107 miles

f. A marathon is 26.2 miles. How many kilometers is this?

26.2 miles =

26.2 miles × 5280 ft / mile × 0.3048 m/ft × km / (1000 m) = 42.165 km