For each of the following pairs, which is the larger unit?c. m or km

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the units involved: 'c. m' stands for centimeters and 'km' stands for kilometers.
2. Understand the metric prefixes: 'centi-' means one hundredth (1/100) and 'kilo-' means one thousand (1000).
3. Convert each unit to the base unit, meters (m): 1 cm = 0.01 m and 1 km = 1000 m.
4. Compare the converted values: 0.01 m (for cm) and 1000 m (for km).
5. Determine which is larger based on the converted values.

Key Concepts

Metric System

The metric system is a decimal-based system of measurement used globally, which includes units such as meters, kilometers, and centimeters. It is structured around powers of ten, making conversions between units straightforward. Understanding the metric system is essential for comparing different units of length, such as centimeters (cm) and kilometers (km).

Unit Conversion

Unit conversion involves changing a measurement from one unit to another while maintaining the same quantity. In the context of length, converting between centimeters and kilometers requires knowledge of their relationship: 1 kilometer equals 100,000 centimeters. This concept is crucial for determining which unit is larger in a given comparison.

Magnitude of Units

The magnitude of units refers to the size or scale of a measurement. In this case, kilometers represent a larger scale of distance compared to centimeters. Recognizing the relative magnitudes of different units helps in understanding their applications and in making accurate comparisons between them.