Question

It has been proposed that North America is moving west at about 2 cm per year. How many kilometers would it move in 5,000 years? (Note: 2 cm is a measurement so your final answer should have significant figure rules applied.)

Answer 1

Well it would move 10,000cm so converting that into km would be it would move 0.1km 

Answer 2

Answer: 0.1 km

Explanation:

1) Multiply the rate (speed) by the time: 2 cm / year × 5,000 year = 10,000 cm

2) Convert cm to km, using these well know conversion factors:

1 km = 1,000 m

1 m = 100 cm

⇒ 10,000 cm × [1 m / 100 cm] × [1 km / 1,000 m] = 0.1 km