Question

Explain why converting from meters to centimeters uses a different exponent than converting from meters to millimeters.

Answer 1

Converting from meters to centimeters uses a negative exponent because a centimeter is a smaller unit of measurement than a meter. A centimeter is one hundredth of a meter.

Converting from meters to millimeters uses a positive exponent because a meter is bigger than a millimeter. One meter is equal to one thousand millimeters.

Further Explanation

Negative Exponents

Negative exponents are used to show division. A number with a negative exponent should be divided by itself for the amount of times the exponent indicates. For example $10^{-3}$ is 10 / 10 / 10 which equals .001.

Another example $2^{-3}$ = 0.125

Positive Exponents

Positive exponents are used to show multiplication. A number with a positive exponent should be multiplied by itself for the amount of times the exponent indicates. For example $10^{3}$ is 10 x 10 x 10 which equals 1,000.

Another example $2^{3}$ = 8

Meters

A meter is a metric unit of measurement.

1 m = 100 cm

1 m = 1,000 mm

Answer Details

Subject: Math

Level: Middle School

Topic: Exponents

Keywords

exponents, metric system, meters, centimeters

Learn More

More on Metric Systems: brainly.com/question/3956263

Metric Conversions: brainly.com/question/12443484

Exponent Equation for Millimeters: brainly.com/question/13174260

Exponent Equation for Centimeters: https://brainly.com/question/13174258

Answer 2

Well, Centimeter and Millimeter both are smaller unit than metre

So, to convert from metre to Millimeter and centimeter ,we have to multiply by a number greater than 1

1m = 100 cm

1m = 1000 mm

So multiply by 100 or 10^2 to convert from metre to cm

and multiply by 1000 or 10^3 to convert from metre to Millimeter