what is a conversion factor

A conversion factor is a numeric expression that enables one unit of measurement to be changed to another, by multiplying or dividing. It is used to convert one set of units to another, and when a conversion is necessary, the appropriate conversion factor to an equal value must be used. For example, to convert inches to feet, the appropriate conversion value is 12 inches equal 1 foot. To convert minutes to hours, the appropriate conversion value is 60 minutes equal 1 hour. Conversion factors are used in various fields such as science, engineering, and mathematics. They can be used to convert different units of length, area, volume, mass, speed, force, energy, and power. Conversion factors are important because they allow us to express measurements in different units, which can be useful for comparison or to make calculations easier.