meters to feet | how to convert

This video explains how to convert from meters to feet and the opposite from feet to meters. Meter is the basic unit of length for the SI system of units, whereas foot is a imperial unit of length. In the video two methods are presented: the accurate one, and an approximate one that can be useful if a calculator is unavailable.

The accurate conversion rule between feet and meters is defined by this equation: 1 ft = 0.3048 m. To convert from feet to meters simply multiply with 0.3048. For example 20 ft make 20x0.3048 = 6.096 meters.

For the opposite conversion, from meters to feet, the reverse operation must be performed, that is to divide meters by 0.3048. For example 9 meters are converted to 9/0.3048 = 29.53 feet. To get the fraction in 12ths of the foot, lets assume that the fraction is x/12. But it must be equal to 0.53 (the decimal part), so this equation is defined: x/12=0.53 which is solved for x this way: x = 12x0.53 = 6.36, which is rounded to x=6. The fraction is 6/12 or 1/2.

The accurate conversion requires a calculator. Instead an approximate conversion can be achieved if we simplify the conversion rule to 1ft = 0.30m or 1ft = 3/10 m. Now, to convert from meters to feet we have to multiply meters with 10 first, and the divide the result by 3. For example 120m are converted this way: a)120x10=1200 and b)1200/3=400ft. The accurate conversion gives 394ft. The approximate conversion is quite close to the accurate one, and in many case it is an acceptable solution.