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How to Write the Conversion Factor to Convert Meters to Centimeters

The metric system was designed by the French Academy of Science in the late 18th century to be a universal, timeless series of measurements. The United States is the only industrialized country not using the metric system, relying instead on the International System of Units. The metric system is the official system of mathematicians and scientists. Due to the standardized prefixes used throughout the metric system, writing conversion factors is an easy task.

Instructions

- 1
  One meter is the equivalent of 100 centimeters. An equation converting meters to centimeters can be written in several ways, but merely multiplying the number of meters by a factor of 100 is arguably the simplest.
- 2
  Write the equation "Y x 100 = Z," in which Y is equal to the number of meters and Z is equal to the number of centimeters.
- 3
  Plug in the number of meters and solve the equation for centimeters. For example, if 8 meters were being converted to centimeters, the conversion equation would be: 8 meters x 100 = 800 centimeters.

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