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Converting From One System of Measurement To Another

This chapter discusses converting between different measurement systems. It provides examples of converting volumes, weights, and lengths between teaspoons, milliliters, ounces, pounds, kilograms, inches and centimeters. Key points covered include memorizing common equivalents between systems, that conversions provide approximate rather than exact answers, and answers may differ depending on the equivalences used.

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129 views23 pages

Converting From One System of Measurement To Another

This chapter discusses converting between different measurement systems. It provides examples of converting volumes, weights, and lengths between teaspoons, milliliters, ounces, pounds, kilograms, inches and centimeters. Key points covered include memorizing common equivalents between systems, that conversions provide approximate rather than exact answers, and answers may differ depending on the equivalences used.

Uploaded by

Asha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER 5

Converting from One System of


Measurement to Another

ASHA RUSSEL
ASST. SCIENCE TUTOR ‘A’
Equivalents of Common Units
of Measurement
Note: Here are some useful equivalents:

6 t = 2 T = 1 oz = 30 mL
Figure 5.1 Medication cups showing equivalent units.
Figure 5.2 Medication cup filled to 10 mL.
Example 1
• Convert 8 teaspoons to an equivalent volume
measured in milliliters.

8 t = ? mL
8 t ? mL
  ? mL
1 ? t
Equivalence needed for the unit
fraction is:
1 t = 5 mL
Example 1

8 t 5 mL
  ? mL
1 1t

= 40 mL

So, 8 t = 40 mL
Example 2
 Convert 60 milliliters to an equivalent volume
measured in ounces.

60 mL = ? oz
60 mL ? oz
  ? oz
1 ? mL
Equivalence needed for the unit
fraction is
1 oz = 30 mL
Example 2

60 mL 1 oz
  ? oz
1 30 mL

= 2 oz

So, 60 mL = 2 oz
Example 3
 A patient weighs 150 pounds. What is the
patient’s weight measured in kilograms?

150 lb = ? kg

150 lb ? kg
  ? kg
1 1 lb
The equivalence needed for the unit
fraction is
1 kg = 2.2 lb
Example 3

150 lb 1 kg
  ? kg
1 2.2 lb

= 68.18 kg

So, the 150 lb patient weighs


about 68 kg.
Example 4
 An infant weighs 4 kilograms. What is the
infant’s weight measured in pounds and
ounces?

First convert 4 kg to pounds: 4 kg = ? lb

1 kg ? lb
  ? lb
1 ? kg
Example 4
 The equivalence needed for the unit fraction
is 1 kg = 2.2 lb

4 kg 2.2 lb
  ? lb
1 1 kg

= 8.8 lb
Example 4
 Now, convert 0.8 lb to ounces.

0.8 lb = ? oz
0.8 lb 16 oz
  ? oz
1 1 lb

= 12.8 oz ≈ 13 oz

So, the 4 kg infant weighs about


8 lb 13 oz
Example 5
 A tumor has a diameter of 2 inches. What is
the diameter of the tumor measured in
millimeters?
2 in = ? mm
First change the inches to centimeters
2 in ? cm
  ? cm
1 ? in
The unit fraction is obtained from the
fact that 1 inch = 2.5 cm
Example 5

2 in 2.5 cm
  ? cm
1 1 in
= 5 cm

So, the 2 inch tumor has a


diameter of 5 centimeters.
Example 5
 Now, change 5 cm to millimeters.

5 cm = ? mm
To convert centimeters to millimeters
is a jump of 1 place to the right.

meter decimeter centimeter millimeter


m dm cm mm
Example 5
 So, in 5 cm, move the decimal point 1 place
to the right.

5 cm = 5.0 cm
5.0. mm

So, the tumor has a diameter of


50 millimeters.
Chapter Summary
• It is important to memorize all the
equivalences for volume, weight, and
length between the metric and
household systems of measurement.

• The equivalences between systems are


not exact equivalences; they are
approximate equivalences.
Chapter Summary
• When performing conversions between
two systems, your answers are not
exact; they are approximate.

• When performing conversions between


two systems, answers may differ
somewhat, depending upon which
approximate equivalences are used.

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