Converting centimetres and metres

Quick answer

You can convert centimetres to metres by dividing by 100, and metres to centimetres by multiplying by 100. There are 100 centimetres in 1 metre.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to convert between centimetres and metres using simple multiplication and division.

• You can tell how many centimetres are in any number of metres
• You can tell how many metres are in any number of centimetres
• You can use real-life examples to check your answers
• You can explain why we divide by 100 when going from centimetres to metres

Why this matters

Understanding how to convert centimetres and metres is useful in many everyday situations. When you're measuring the length of your bedroom, the height of a door, or how far you've walked, you need to know how these units relate to each other. This skill helps you in school when working with measurements, and it's also useful when you're helping with home projects, cooking, or even playing sports!

How it works

Converting between centimetres and metres is simple once you know that:

• 1 metre = 100 centimetres
• 1 centimetre = 0.01 metres

To convert from centimetres to metres, you divide by 100. To convert from metres to centimetres, you multiply by 100.

1. Start with your measurement in centimetres or metres
2. If converting to metres, divide by 100
3. If converting to centimetres, multiply by 100
4. Check your answer using a real-life example

Examples you can see

Let's look at some examples to make this clearer:

Converting metres to centimetres

If you have 3 metres, you can find how many centimetres that is:

3 metres × 100 = 300 centimetres

This means 3 metres equals 300 centimetres.

Converting centimetres to metres

If you have 500 centimetres, you can find how many metres that is:

500 centimetres ÷ 100 = 5 metres

This means 500 centimetres equals 5 metres.

Using arrays to show the relationship

Imagine you have 100 centimetre rulers lined up end to end. Together, they make exactly 1 metre. If you had 3 such groups, you would have 3 metres, which is 300 centimetres.

Real-world example: Building a fence

Sarah is building a fence for her garden. The fence needs to be 4 metres long. How many centimetres is that?

4 metres × 100 = 400 centimetres

Sarah needs 400 centimetres of fencing material.

Real-world example: Walking a distance

Tommy walks 600 centimetres to get to school. How many metres is that?

600 centimetres ÷ 100 = 6 metres

Tommy walks 6 metres to school.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Measurement Mission

You are a young explorer who needs to find the treasure in the ancient castle. But the treasure map shows distances in centimetres, and you can only measure in metres. Your mission is to convert these measurements to find the treasure!

1. First clue: Walk 150 centimetres from the big oak tree
2. Second clue: Go 200 centimetres towards the pond
3. Third clue: Dig where you are after walking 100 centimetres from the pond
4. Fourth clue: The treasure is 500 centimetres away from the digging spot

Now, let's convert these measurements to metres:

1. 150 centimetres ÷ 100 = 1.5 metres
2. 200 centimetres ÷ 100 = 2 metres
3. 100 centimetres ÷ 100 = 1 metre
4. 500 centimetres ÷ 100 = 5 metres

Can you help the explorer find the treasure using these converted measurements?

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Forgetting to move the decimal point when dividing by 100
• Why it happens: Children often think they need to add zeros or move digits around without understanding place value
• Fix: Remember that dividing by 100 means moving the decimal point two places to the left

• Mistake: Multiplying instead of dividing when converting from centimetres to metres
• Why it happens: Confusion between the direction of conversion or mixing up multiplication and division
• Fix: Remember that smaller units (centimetres) need to be divided to get larger units (metres)

• Mistake: Thinking that 100 centimetres equals 10 metres
• Why it happens: Not understanding the relationship between the units or confusing multiplication with addition
• Fix: Always remember that 100 centimetres = 1 metre, not 10 metres

Parent and carer guide

Helping your child with converting centimetres and metres can be fun and practical:

1. Use everyday objects: Measure common items like a book, table, or room using both centimetres and metres
2. Play games: Create a "measurement race" where you measure different items and convert between units
3. Encourage checking: Have your child verify their answers by using real-life examples or drawing arrays
4. Be patient: If they make mistakes, gently guide them to understand the relationship between the units
5. Connect to real life: Talk about when they might use these skills, like measuring a room or planning a garden

At home, you can ask questions like:

• How many centimetres are in 2 metres?
• How many metres are in 700 centimetres?
• Can you measure something in your room and convert it?

Practice questions

1. Convert 4 metres to centimetres
2. Convert 800 centimetres to metres
3. Convert 1.5 metres to centimetres
4. Convert 300 centimetres to metres
5. Convert 0.75 metres to centimetres

Answers:

1. 4 metres × 100 = 400 centimetres
2. 800 centimetres ÷ 100 = 8 metres
3. 1.5 metres × 100 = 150 centimetres
4. 300 centimetres ÷ 100 = 3 metres
5. 0.75 metres × 100 = 75 centimetres

FAQ

How many centimetres are in a metre?

There are 100 centimetres in 1 metre.

Why do we divide by 100 when converting centimetres to metres?

We divide by 100 because there are 100 centimetres in every metre. So when we have centimetres and want to know how many metres that is, we need to split them into groups of 100.

Can I use a calculator for these conversions?

Yes, you can use a calculator, but it's good to understand the pattern first. This helps you check if your answer makes sense.

What if I have a decimal number like 2.5 metres?

You still multiply by 100. 2.5 metres × 100 = 250 centimetres.

Is there a quick way to remember this?

Yes! Remember: "Meters are bigger, so divide by 100. Centimetres are smaller, so multiply by 100."