Learning how to convert distances in C is a great exercise for beginners. In this post, we’ll write a simple yet useful C program that takes distance in kilometers and converts it into meters, feet, inches, and centimeters.

This conversion program enhances your skills in mathematical operations, data handling, and unit conversions — a common requirement in real-world applications.

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Unit Conversion Reference

1 kilometer (km) equals:

• 1000 meters (m)
• 3280.84 feet (ft)
• 39370.1 inches (in)
• 100000 centimeters (cm)

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C Program to Convert Kilometers to Other Units

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    float km, meters, feet, inches, centimeters;

    // Input from user
    printf("Enter distance in kilometers: ");
    scanf("%f", &km);

    // Conversions
    meters = km * 1000;
    feet = km * 3280.84;
    inches = km * 39370.1;
    centimeters = km * 100000;

    // Output
    printf("Distance in meters: %.2f\n", meters);
    printf("Distance in feet: %.2f\n", feet);
    printf("Distance in inches: %.2f\n", inches);
    printf("Distance in centimeters: %.2f\n", centimeters);

    return 0;
}

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Output Example

Enter distance in kilometers: 2
Distance in meters: 2000.00
Distance in feet: 6561.68
Distance in inches: 78740.20
Distance in centimeters: 200000.00

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Explanation of Code

• scanf() reads the distance in kilometers from the user.
• We use multiplication to convert km into different units:
  • meters = km * 1000;
  • feet = km * 3280.84;
  • inches = km * 39370.1;
  • centimeters = km * 100000;
• The output is printed using printf() with two decimal points.

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Why You Should Learn Unit Conversion in C

• It’s a real-world use case.
• Enhances your understanding of float operations.
• Helps in understanding input/output flow in C programming.
• Frequently asked in beginner coding exercises.

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External Resource (Outbound Link)

For more unit conversion references:
👉 Unit Conversion Table – RapidTables