Whether you’re tackling a DIY project, deciphering measurements for a recipe, or just trying to understand international sizing charts, unit conversions are a part of everyday life.
This quick guide explains how to convert 20.5 cm to inches. It’s simpler than you might think!
Using the standard conversion factor, 20.5 centimeters is approximately equal to 8.07 inches.
Centimeters and inches: What’s the difference?
If you’re used to working with one measurement system, it can be hard to wrap your head around another. Let’s take a closer look at centimeters and inches.
What’s a centimeter?
A centimeter (cm) is a unit of length in the metric system. There are 100 centimeters in a meter. Centimeters are often used to measure smaller objects and distances.
What’s an inch?
An inch (in) is a unit of length in the imperial system. There are 12 inches in a foot, and 36 inches in a yard.
Why are both units important?
Even though most of the world uses the metric system, the U.S. still uses the imperial system. Because of this, both centimeters and inches are still used to measure length, height, and width.
The conversion formula and factor
To convert from centimeters to inches, you can use a simple formula:
Centimeters to inches conversion formula
The formula is as follows:
Inches = Centimeters / 2.54
To convert centimeters to inches, you simply divide the number of centimeters by 2.54.
The number 2.54 is the conversion factor. There are 2.54 centimeters in every inch.
Alternative formula
Here’s another way to convert centimeters to inches:
Inches = Centimeters 0.3937
In this formula, you multiply the number of centimeters by 0.3937.
The number 0.3937 is the alternative conversion factor, and multiplying by 0.3937 is the same as dividing by 2.54.
Applying the formula to 20.5 cm
To convert 20.5 cm to inches, you would perform this calculation:
20.5 cm / 2.54 = 8.07 inches (approximately)
So, 20.5 centimeters is about 8.07 inches.
Examples of centimeter-to-inch conversions
Want to see how this works in practice? Here are a few examples.
Example 1: Converting 41 cm to inches
Here’s the calculation: 41 cm / 2.54 = 16.14 inches (approximately).
So, 41 centimeters is about 16.14 inches.
Example 2: Converting 10.25 cm to inches
Here’s the calculation: 10.25 cm / 2.54 = 4.04 inches (approximately).
So, 10.25 centimeters works out to about 4.04 inches.
Example 3: Converting 102.5 cm to inches
Here’s the calculation: 102.5 cm / 2.54 = 40.35 inches (approximately).
In this case, 102.5 centimeters is approximately 40.35 inches.
Figuring out fractional inches
Sometimes, it’s just easier to think in terms of fractional inches. If you’re working on a home improvement project, for example, you probably don’t want to measure something as “8.07 inches.”
To convert the decimal part of an inch to a fraction, multiply the decimal by the denominator you want. For instance, let’s say you want to know what 8.07 inches is in terms of sixteenths of an inch.
Take the decimal portion, 0.07, and multiply it by 16. That gives you 1.12, which you can round to 1.
So, 20.5 cm is about 8 and 1/16 inches.
To Conclude
So, to recap, 20.5 centimeters is about 8.07 inches. If you need a fraction, that’s 8 and 1/16 inches.
Remember, the formula to convert centimeters to inches is simple: just divide the number of centimeters by 2.54. It’s a handy tool to keep in mind!
Whether you’re working on a craft project, figuring out a measurement for home improvement, or just satisfying your curiosity, I hope this helps you accurately convert between centimeters and inches.