If a distance is 4.2195 x 10^4 meters, how many kilometers is that?

If a distance is 4.2195 x 10^4 meters, how many kilometers is that?

• A. 4.2195 kilometers
• B. 0.042195 kilometers
• C. 42.195 kilometers
• D. 421.95 kilometers

Answer: (C)

Focus on converting units between meters and kilometers. The relation is simple: 1 kilometer equals 1000 meters. So to move from meters to kilometers you divide by 1000 (or subtract three from the exponent when using scientific notation). Here, the distance is 4.2195 × 10^4 meters. Dividing by 10^3 (meters per kilometer) gives 4.2195 × 10^(4−3) kilometers = 4.2195 × 10^1 kilometers = 42.195 kilometers. A quick check: 42.195 kilometers equals 42,195 meters, which matches the original value. That is why the result is 42.195 kilometers.

Focus on converting units between meters and kilometers. The relation is simple: 1 kilometer equals 1000 meters. So to move from meters to kilometers you divide by 1000 (or subtract three from the exponent when using scientific notation).

Here, the distance is 4.2195 × 10^4 meters. Dividing by 10^3 (meters per kilometer) gives 4.2195 × 10^(4−3) kilometers = 4.2195 × 10^1 kilometers = 42.195 kilometers. A quick check: 42.195 kilometers equals 42,195 meters, which matches the original value.

That is why the result is 42.195 kilometers.