Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Simple conversions
• Method 2 of 2: Using fractions
• Tips

There are many sites on the Internet where you can automatically convert miles to kilometers. However, it is a good idea to learn how to do this yourself, should you not have an internet connection at some point. The most important thing to remember is that there are Go 1.6 kilometers in a mile This means that you multiplies the given number of miles by 1.6 to get the mileage.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Simple conversions

1. Record the number of miles. In this section you will learn how to convert kilometers to miles. Start writing the number of miles you want to convert. If you are using a calculator, you enter it.
   • Let's start with an example. If we want to convert 50 miles to kilometers, we first write it as follows: 50 miles.
2. Multiply this by 1.6. Your answer is the number of kilometers. That's all!
   • In our example you will find the answer as follows: 50 × 1.6 =80 kilometers.
   • Do not forget to indicate the unit "kilometer". You can also abbreviate this as "km". When doing this for a test, you should always state the unit in order not to lose points.
   • If you need help multiplying by decimal, read the article Multiplying decimal fractions.
3. For accurate conversions, multiply by 1,60934. A mile is not exactly 1.6 kilometers. It is actually 1.609347218694 kilometers. This is the definition of the U.S. Survey. Use as many decimal places of this number as you want, depending on the precision you want for your answer.
   • If we exactly To find out how many kilometers are 50 miles, multiply 50 by 1.609347. So 50 × 1.609347 =80.46735 kilometers - about half a kilometer more.
   • You only need this for really accurate conversions. Just use 1.6 for simple calculations!
4. To get back to miles, divide by 1.6. Converting from kilometers to miles is very easy. Since division is actually the reverse of multiplication, divide the number of miles by 1.6 to "undo" the multiplication.
   • Using the data from our original example: 80 / 1.6 =50 miles - exactly what we started with.
   • If you have used a decimal other than 1.6 for the conversion, use that to convert back. In our alternate example above, we then divide by 1.609347.

Method 2 of 2: Using fractions

1. Write the number of miles as a fraction. By treating your measurements as fractions, you can do the conversion in a way that makes it easy to find the correct answer (and units) every time. Start by putting the number of miles in the top part of the fraction (the counter). In the bottom part of the fraction (the denominator) you write a 1.
   • Suppose we want to find out how many kilometers go in 5.4 miles. In this case, the fraction looks like this: 5.4 miles / 1.
   • When converting in this way, always write the units in the fractions. They will be important later on.
2. Write a fraction with the ratio of kilometers per mile. Now you create a fraction that shows how many kilometers there are in a mile. This is a lot easier than it sounds. See below for more help.
   • We already know that there is about a mile in a mile. We can use this to write our fraction. In the numerator (the top part), we write "1.6 kilometers" and in the denominator (the bottom part), we write "1 mile". This gives us 1.6 kilometers / 1 mile.
3. Multiply and cancel out the units that appear in the numerator and denominator. Now you are going to multiply the two fractions. See our article on multiplying fractions if you need more help. When multiplying, pay attention to a pair of units that occurs in both the numerator and denominator. When you find it, cross out both units.
   • In our example, we see 5.4 miles / 1 × 1.6 kilometers / 1 mile. "Miles" appears in the numerator of the first fraction and the denominator of the second fraction, so we can cross out both "miles". After multiplication we get 8,64.
4. Use the units left in your answer. In the last step, you should have crossed out all units, with one exception. This is the unit of your answer.
   • In our example, the "mile" is the only unit that has not been crossed out, so we know our answer 8.64 kilometers is.
5. Continue with this method to do more complicated conversions. Now that you know how to do simple conversions, use the same approach for longer conversions. Follow the same steps. Write your first measurement as a fraction with 1 as the denominator. Then you write the conversions as fractions so that the units cancel out (except for the units you want to see in your answer) and multiply them.
   • For example, let's say you want to know how much is 5.4 miles in centimeters. You don't know what the conversion is for miles to centimeters, but you know that there are 1.6 kilometers in a mile, 1000 meters in a kilometer, and 1 meter in 100 centimeters. This is all you need to fix this problem:

     5.4 miles / 1 × 1.6 kilometers / 1 mile × 1000 meters / 1 kilometer × 100 centimeters / 1 meter

   • Note that all units cancel out, except for the centimeter (because it only occurs once). If you continue to multiply, your final answer will be 864,000 centimeters.

Tips

• If you are in a hurry, you can also use an online converter. A good one is this one. However, don't get into the habit of using these types of programs - You can't use them at school or at work anyway.
• Note: The US and international definitions for kilometers in a mile differ slightly. It is an international mile 1,609344 km, while an American mile 1,60934721869 km is.