How Many Inches is 3 Feet 8? Conversion & More!

Measuring length is a fundamental part of everyday life. From construction and engineering projects to cooking and sewing, we often need to know the length of something.

This article will explain how to convert 3 feet and 8 inches into inches. We’ll go over the basic conversion and related concepts, like inch fractions and decimal equivalents. You’ll often see this written as 3′ 8″.

It’s also worth noting that there are two main systems of measurement: the Imperial system, which uses inches, feet, and yards, and the Metric system, which uses centimeters and meters. This article focuses on the Imperial system because we’re working with inches.

How to convert feet and inches to inches

Let’s review the basics of converting feet and inches into inches.

Feet and inches defined

A foot is a unit of measurement equal to 12 inches.

An inch is a unit of measurement often used for smaller objects, such as the length of your phone or the width of a book.

The formula for converting feet and inches to inches

To convert a measurement from feet and inches into inches, use this formula:

Total inches = (number of feet x 12) + number of inches

Example: Converting 3 feet 8 inches

Let’s say you want to convert 3 feet 8 inches into inches. Here’s how you’d do it:

(3 feet x 12 inches/foot) + 8 inches = 36 inches + 8 inches = 44 inches

So, 3 feet 8 inches equals 44 inches.

Working with Inch Fractions and Decimals

When you’re measuring something, you’ll often run into fractions of inches. It’s good to know how these fractions work and how they relate to decimal inches.

Understanding Inch Fractions

Inches are often expressed as fractions like 1/2 inch or 1/4 inch. With inch fractions, the denominator is typically a power of 2, like 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, or 64.

Fractions of inches play an important role in woodworking, construction, engineering, and other fields where precise measurements are crucial.

Converting Inches to Fractions

You can convert a measurement from decimal inches to an inch fraction. Here’s how:

  1. Separate the whole number from the decimal.
  2. Multiply the decimal part by the denominator of the precision you want.
  3. Round the result to the nearest whole number.
  4. Put the numerator over the denominator, and combine the fraction with the whole inches.

For example, let’s convert 2.695 inches to a fraction. The result is approximately 2 11/16 inches.

Converting Inch Fractions to Decimals

To convert an inch fraction to a decimal, simply divide the numerator by the denominator.

For example, 1/2 inch = 0.5 inches.

Inches and the metric system

Inches are part of the Imperial system of measurement. Most of the world, however, uses the metric system. That’s why it’s helpful to know how to convert inches into metric units like centimeters and millimeters.

Inches to centimeters

One inch equals 2.54 centimeters. So, to convert inches to centimeters, you multiply the number of inches by 2.54.

To convert 44 inches (or 3 feet 8 inches) to centimeters, you’d multiply 44 by 2.54, which gives you 111.76 cm.

Inches to millimeters

One inch equals 25.4 millimeters. To convert inches to millimeters, you multiply the number of inches by 25.4.

To convert 44 inches to millimeters, you’d multiply 44 by 25.4, which gives you 1117.6 mm.

Why metric matters

Because the metric system is so prevalent globally, knowing how to convert between Imperial and metric units can be very helpful. It can help you understand measurements in different contexts, whether you’re traveling, working on a scientific project, or just trying to follow instructions from a source that uses metric units.

Closing Thoughts

In this article, we covered the basics of converting feet and inches into inches, figuring out inch fractions and decimals, and converting to metric units. For example, we showed how 3 feet 8 inches equals 44 inches.

Understanding these conversions is essential in many practical applications, from home improvement to manufacturing. Accurate measurement is key in many fields, and these skills are valuable.

While the metric system is widely used around the world, the Imperial system is still used in the United States. So, knowing how to convert between them is a skill that can come in handy more often than you might think.