Subtracting Mixed Metric Lengths to Find a Height Difference
To find the difference in height between two people when one measurement is given in meters and the other in centimeters, first convert both values to the same unit, then subtract. For example, Ryland is 1.6 meters tall and his younger brother is centimeters tall. How much taller is Ryland?
- Choose a common unit: Since meters is the larger unit, convert centimeters to meters by moving the decimal point places to the left (because ): .
- Subtract like units: .
Ryland is 0.75 meters taller than his brother. The key step is ensuring both measurements share the same metric unit before performing the subtraction—the same principle used with US customary mixed units, but made simpler by base-ten conversion.
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Subtracting Mixed Metric Lengths to Find a Height Difference
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