Is 5'8.5" or 174cm Close to 5'9"?

Height is a personal attribute often used in social and professional contexts. When expressing one's height, it can sometimes be confusing or challenging to convert between different measurement systems. This article aims to clarify whether 5'8.5" (5 feet 8.5 inches) or 174cm is indeed close to 5'9" (5 feet 9 inches).

Common Measurement Units for Height

When it comes to expressing height, different people have their preferences. While some may use feet and inches, others may opt for centimeters or meters. Regardless of the specific unit used, the key is to ensure clarity in communication. For instance, if someone says they are 174cm tall, it is widely understood to be the same as 5 feet 8.5 inches. There is no need to specify it as 59 inches or 58.5 inches; using 174cm is sufficient and more precise.

Conversion and Comparison

To understand the relationship between 5'8.5" and 5'9", let's convert these measurements into the same unit for comparison. Here’s a breakdown:

5'8.5" in Centimeters

5 feet 5 * 30.48 152.4 centimeters ( 5 times 30.48 152.4 cm) 8.5 inches 8.5 * 2.54 21.59 centimeters ( 8.5 times 2.54 21.59 cm) Total: 152.4 21.59 173.99 centimeters ( 152.4 21.59 173.99 cm)

This means that 5'8.5" is approximately 173.99 cm. Rounding to the nearest whole number, we get:

5'8.5" ≈ 174 cm

5'9" in Centimeters

5 feet 5 * 30.48 152.4 centimeters ( 5 times 30.48 152.4 cm) 9 inches 9 * 2.54 22.86 centimeters ( 9 times 2.54 22.86 cm) Total: 152.4 22.86 175.26 centimeters ( 152.4 22.86 175.26 cm)

This means that 5'9" is approximately 175.26 cm. Rounding to the nearest whole number, we get:

5'9" ≈ 175 cm

The Disparity

The difference between 173.99 cm and 175.26 cm is minimal. In fact, it is merely a difference of 1.27 centimeters, or approximately half an inch.

5'8.5" ≈ 174 cm

5'9" ≈ 175 cm

The disparity is so small that in practical terms, someone who is 5'8.5" can be considered to be nearly 5'9". For most purposes, especially in daily life, this small difference is negligible.

Conclusion

Given the above calculations, it is clear that 5'8.5" or 174cm is indeed very close to 5'9". The difference is less than a half an inch, which means that for most practical and social purposes, the two heights are interchangeable. Whether you choose to express your height in feet and inches or centimeters is largely a matter of personal preference, as long as the measurement is precise and clear.

Final Word

So, feel free to use 174cm or 5'8.5"—both are very close to and effectively interchangeable with 5'9". When in doubt, it’s always best to be precise and clear in your communication about your height. Whether you are in a job interview, a social setting, or simply discussing your height with someone, accuracy is key.