How do you convert units of measure? It’s simple if you remember these basic steps.
Converting Customary Units of Weight Video
Converting Customary Units of Length Video
Converting Customary Units of Capacity Video
Using the Metric System Video Metric SystemPDF
Converting Metric Units of Capacity Video
10.7 – Converting Units of Time Video
Step 1: Use the hand jive to decide which operation to use.
BIG to little – MULTIPLY
Little to BIG – DIVIDE
Step 2: Use a Conversion Chart to complete your equation.
Customary Units of Length Conversion Chart:
- 1 foot = 12 inches
- 1 yard = 3 feet = 36 inches
- 1 mile = 1760 yards = 5280 feet
Customary Units of Capacity Conversion Chart:
- 1 cup = 8 oz
- 1 pint = 2 c = 16 oz
- 1 quart = 2 pt = 4 c = 32 oz
- 1 gallon = 4 qt = 8 pt = 16 c = 128 oz
Standard (or Customary) Units of Weight:
- 1 pound = 16 oz
- 1 ton = 2,000 lb
Metric Units of Length (meters):
- 1cm = 10 mm
- 1m = 100 cm = 1000 mm
- 1 km = 1000 m = 100,000 cm = 1,000,000 mm
- km – hm – dam – m – dm – cm – mm
- kilometer – hectometer – decameter – meter – decimeter – centimeter – millimeter
Metric Units of Capacity (liters):
- 1 cL = 10 mL
- 1 L = 100 cL = 1000 mL
- 1 kL = 1000 L = 100,000 cL = 1,000,000 mL
- kL – hL – daL – L – dL – cL – mL
- kilometer – hectometer – decameter – gram – decimeter – centimeter – millimeter
Metric Units of Mass (grams):
- 1 cg = 10 mg
- 1 g = 100 cg = 1000 mg
- 1 kg = 1000 g = 100,000 cg = 1,000,000 mg
- kg – hg – dag – g – dg – cg – mg
- kilogram – hectogram – decagram – gram – decigram – centigram – milligram
Example:
Convert 5 yards to feet.
- First, use the hand jive to decide which operation to use.
- Yards > feet, so BIG to little – MULTIPLY.
- Use the conversion chart to help you set up your equation.
- 5 yards x 3 (the ratio between 1 yard and feet ) = 15 feet
Convert 12 cups to quarts.
- First, use the hand jive to decide which operation to use.
- Cups < quarts, so little to BIG – DIVIDE
- Use the conversion chart to help you set up your equation.
- 12 c / 4 qt (the ratio between 1 quart & cups) = 3 quarts
Convert 3 kilometers to meters.
- First, use the hand mime to decide which operation to use.
- Kilometers > meters, so BIG to little – MULTIPLY.
- Use the conversion chat to help you set up your equation.
- 3 km x 1000 (the ratio between 1 km and m) = 3,000 m
Convert 750 millimeters to centimeters.
- First, use the hand jive to decide which operation to use.
- Millimeters < centimeters, so little to BIG – DIVIDE
- Use the conversion chart to help you set up your equation.
- 750 mm / 10 (the ratio between 1 cm and mm) = 75 cm
The King Henry Metric Slide
Converting Units of Time:
- 1 minute (min) = 60 seconds (s)
- 1 hour (hr) = 60 minutes (min) = 3600 seconds (s)
- 1 day (d) = 24 (hr) = 1400 (min) = 86,400 (s)
- 1 week (wk) = 7 days
- 1 month (mo) = 4 weeks = 30 days
- 1 year (yr) = 12 months = 52 weeks = 365 days