Meters, or m for short, and kilometers, abbreviated km, measure distance. Most countries have adopted the metric system, but the United States still uses inches, feet and miles in everyday activities. In the metric system, the units are related by a factor of 10. Because "kilo-" represents 1,000, a kilometer equals 1,000 meters. You might have to convert from meters to kilometers to compare different measurements.
Instructions
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Divide the number of meters by 1,000 to convert to kilometers. For example, if you have 43,200 meters, divide 43,200 by 1,000 to get 43.2 km.
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Multiply the number of meters by 0.001 to check your conversion to kilometers. In this example, multiply 43,200 by 0.001 to get 43.2 km.
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Check your answer using an online meters-to-kilometers converter (see Resources). Enter the number of meters and click "Go."