Direct answer: 1 inch = 2.54 cm (exact), so 1 centimeter = 0.3937007874 inches (often rounded to 0.3937 in).
How to convert
- To convert centimeters to inches use:
$$\text{in} = \frac{\text{cm}}{2.54}$$
or equivalently
$$\text{in} = \text{cm} \times 0.3937007874.$$
- To convert inches to centimeters:
$$\text{cm} = \text{in} \times 2.54.$$
Worked examples
- Convert 10 cm to inches:
$$\text{in} = \frac{10}{2.54} \approx 3.9370\text{ in}.$$
- Convert 50 cm to inches:
$$\text{in} = \frac{50}{2.54} \approx 19.6850\text{ in}.$$
- Convert 1.8 cm to inches (e.g., a small object):
$$\text{in} = \frac{1.8}{2.54} \approx 0.7087\text{ in}.$$
Round results to the precision you need (e.g., two decimals: $10\text{ cm}\approx 3.94\text{ in}$).
Quick mental approximations
- Multiply cm by 0.4 to get a rough inches value (slightly high).
Example: $20\text{ cm}\times 0.4 = 8\text{ in}$ (actual $\approx 7.874\text{ in}$).
- Or divide by $2.5$ for a quick estimate (also slightly high): $ \frac{\text{cm}}{2.5} $.
Common conversions (rounded)
| Centimeters | Inches (approx) |
|—:|—:|
| 1 cm | 0.39 in |
| 2 cm | 0.79 in |
| 5 cm | 1.97 in |
| 10 cm | 3.94 in |
| 30 cm | 11.81 in |
| 50 cm | 19.69 in |
| 100 cm | 39.37 in |
Practice (try before checking answers)
- Convert 7 cm to inches.
- Convert 25.4 cm to inches.
- Convert 3.5 in to cm.
Answers:
- $7\text{ cm} \approx \frac{7}{2.54}\approx 2.76\text{ in}$
- $25.4\text{ cm} = \frac{25.4}{2.54} = 10\text{ in}$ (by definition)
- $3.5\text{ in} = 3.5\times 2.54 = 8.89\text{ cm}$
If you want, I can make a conversion table for a specific range (e.g., 1–100 cm) or give a small calculator script in Python. Which would you prefer?