Question

Los Angeles and Honolulu are \(2558 \mathrm{mi}\) apart. What is this distance in kilometers?

Short answer

The distance between Los Angeles and Honolulu is approximately 4121.2 kilometers.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the conversion factor

We want to convert the distance from miles to kilometers. The conversion factor is 1 mile = 1.60934 kilometers.

Setting up the equation

Since we know the distance in miles and the conversion factor, we can set up the equation to find the distance in kilometers: Distance (kilometers) = Distance (miles) × Conversion factor

Plugging in the values

We are given the distance in miles as 2558 miles. Now, we'll plug in the values into the equation: Distance (kilometers) = \(2558 \cdot 1.60934\)

Calculating the distance

We'll now calculate the distance in kilometers: Distance (kilometers) = \(4121.2\) So, Los Angeles and Honolulu are approximately 4121.2 kilometers apart in distance.

Key concepts

Distance Conversion

The process of converting a measurement of distance from one unit to another is known as distance conversion. This fundamental concept is vital in many scientific, engineering, and everyday situations. Distance units vary across the global systems, for instance, miles are predominantly used in the United States, while kilometers are common in many other countries.

Converting distances helps us understand and communicate measurements more universally. For example, knowing how to convert miles to kilometers can be helpful for those traveling abroad, reading international research, or even just trying to follow a recipe from another country. To perform a distance conversion, one must understand the relationship between the units involved, which is established through a conversion factor.

Conversion Factor

A conversion factor is a standard numerical multiplier that allows us to transform a quantity expressed in one set of units to another set of units. It bridges two measurement systems, allowing for a simple multiplication or division to convert units. Crucially, conversion factors are based on exact equivalences.

In the context of distance conversion, the conversion factor represents how many of the units you are converting to (e.g., kilometers) are equivalent to one unit of what you are converting from (e.g., miles). Using the correct conversion factor is essential for accurate calculations, and when conversions are made between two metrics or between two customary units, the conversion factors are often simple numbers. However, converting between metric and customary units, such as miles to kilometers, will involve more complex numbers, like the 1.60934 in our example.

Mile to Kilometer Conversion

Converting miles to kilometers is one of the most common distance conversions, particularly due to the frequent need to translate between the imperial and metric systems. The international agreement on the exact conversion factor is as follows: 1 mile is equivalent to 1.60934 kilometers. This figure is essential for anyone needing to convert distances from American (imperial) measurements to the metric system most of the rest of the world uses.

When faced with the task of converting miles to kilometers, you'll use the given conversion factor as a multiplier for the number of miles in question. For example, if you're planning a trip or studying scientific data, knowing how to manually execute this conversion can be invaluable. To convert from miles to kilometers, you multiply the number of miles by 1.60934. Conversely, to convert from kilometers to miles, you divide the number of kilometers by 1.60934.