Cunning Conversion

Cunning. Simple, yet complex. Not difficult to do. Some of us can do it right on the spot. It's not a bird, not a plane, not a monster, not Superman. It's conversion. Conversion. Let us look at the technical definition first. According to dictionary.com, (of course we are not looking at the religious meaning, but the mathematical meaning), it is a change in the form or units of an expression. Basically, here is an example: 1km= 1ooom. Here is another: 1cm= 10mm. The key to doing quick, yet effective conversion questions is to remember what a particular type of unit is in another type of units, something like 1m is always equals equal to 100cm. In questions like: " Tom has a ribbon. Dick gives him another 100cm of ribbon, but Harry steals another 57cm from Tom. However, due to his remorse, he returned another 45cm of ribbon back to Tom. He now has 338cm of ribbon left. What is the length of ribbon Tom has at first? Give your answers in metres."

Well, some of us who are "well versed" in conversion will easily work out this problem. However, I shall work out this problem to show you all my mathematical prowess:

The trick to the main part of this question is to work backwards.
338cm - 45cm = 293cm
293cm + 57cm = 350cm
350cm - 100cm = 250cm
And 250 cm is the answer NOT. Remember to convert to metres.
1cm = 1/1oom
250cm divided by 100 = 2.5m
So the final answer is 2.5m.

The solution is explained this way: "338cm - 45cm = 293cm" - from Tom's final length of ribbon, work backwards, and take away the ribbon Harry returns to him.

"293cm + 57cm = 350cm" - add back the amount of ribbon Harry stole from Tom.

"350cm - 100cm = 250cm" - subtract the amount of ribbon Dick gives Tom, and with this step, you will get the original length of ribbon Tom has, before Dick gave Tom anything.

And of course, you convert to the unit of measurement to the one required. However, another way is to convert the units right from the start, and work accordingly, for example:

338cm = 3.38m, 45cm = 0.45m. 3.38m - 0.45m = 2.93m.

And continue accordingly.

And so, that is about the more simple conversion for units of measurement.

Bye!