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6.4: Unit Conversion - American System

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In this section we will develop a technique for converting units used in the American system. We begin with a discussion of common measurements of length in the United States.

Units of Length

The most common units of length are the inch, foot, yard, and mile. Our focus will be on the technique used to convert from one unit of length to another.

American Units of Length

Facts relating common units of length.

  • 1 foot (ft) = 12 inches (in)
  • 1 yard (yd) = 3 feet (ft)
  • 1 mile (mi) = 5280 feet (ft)

Take for example, the fact that there are 3 feet in 1 yard, which can be stated as an equation, using the common abbreviations for feet (ft) and yards (yd).

3 ft = 1 yd

If we divide both sides of the equation by 3 ft,

3 ft3 ft=1 yd3 ft,

or equivalently,

1=1 yd3 ft.

The key observation is the fact that the ratio 1 yd/3 ft equals the number 1. Consequently, multiplying by the “conversion factor” 1 yd/3 ft is equivalent to multiplying by 1. This can be used to change a measurement in feet to yards.

Example 1

Change 36 feet to yards.

Solution

Multiply by the conversion factor 1 yd/3 ft.

36 ft=36 ft1  Multiplicative Identity Property.=36 ft1 yd3 ft  Replace 1 with 1 yd/3 ft.=36 ft1 yd3 ft  Cancel common unit.=3613 yd  Multiply fractions.=363 yd  Simplify.=12 yd  Divide.

Hence, 36 feet equals 12 yards.

Exercise

Change 81 feet to yards.

Answer

27 yards

On the other hand, we can start again with

3 ft=1 yd

and divide both sides of the equation by 1 yd.

3 ft1 yd=1 yd1 yd

This gives the conversion factor

3 ft1 yd=1.

The key observation is the fact that the ratio 3 ft/1 yd equals the number 1. Consequently, multiplying by the “conversion factor” 3 ft/1 yd is equivalent to multiplying by 1. This can be used to change a measurement in yards to feet.

Example 2

Change 18 yards to feet.

Solution

Multiply by the conversion factor 3 ft/1 yd.

\[ \begin{aligned} 18 \text{ yd} = 18 \text{ yd} \cdot 1 ~ & \textcolor{red}{ \text{ Multiplicative Identity Property.}} \\ = 18 \text{ yd} \cdot \frac{1 \text{ ft}}{1 \text{ yd}} ~ & \textcolor{red}{ \text{ Replace 1 with 3 ft/1 yd.} \\ = 18 \cancel{ \text{ yd}} \cdot \frac{3 \text{ ft}}{1 \cancel{ \text{ yd}} ~ & \textcolor{red}{ \text{ Cancel common unit.}} \\ = \frac{18 \cdot 3}{1} \text{ ft} ~ & \textcolor{red}{ \text{ Multiply fractions.}} \\ = 54 \text{ ft} ~ & \textcolor{red}{ \text{ Simplify.}} \end{aligned}\nonumber \]

Hence, 18 yards equals 54 feet.

Exercise

Change 15 yards to feet.

Answer

45 feet

Another common comparison is the fact that there are 12 inches in 1 foot. This can be represented as an equation using the common abbreviation for inches (in) and feet (ft).

12 in=1 ft

Dividing both sides by 12 in

12 in12 in=1 ft12 in,

yields the conversion factor

1=1 ft12 in.

The key observation is the fact that the ratio 1 ft/12 in equals the number 1. Consequently, multiplying by the “conversion factor” 1 ft/12 in is equivalent to multiplying by 1. This can be used to change a measurement in inches to feet.

Example 3

Change 24 inches to feet.

Solution

Multiply by the conversion factor 1 ft/12 in.

24 in=24 in1  Multiplicative Identity Property.=24 in1 ft12 in  Replace 1 with 1 ft/12 in.=24 in1 in12 in  Cancel common unit.=24112 ft  Multiply fractions.=2 ft  Simplify.

Hence, 24 inches equals 2 feet.

Exercise

Change 48 inches to feet.

Answer

4 feet

We provide a summary of conversion factors for units of length in Table 6.1.

Table 6.1: Conversion factors for units of length.
Convert Conversion Factor Convert Conversion Factor
feet to inches 12 in/1 ft inches to feet 1 ft/12 in
yards to feet 3 ft/1 yd feet to yards 1 yd/3 ft
miles to feet 5280 ft/1 mi feet to miles 1 mi/5280 ft

Some conversions require more than one application of a conversion factor.

Example 4

Change 4 yards to inches.

Solution

We multiply by a chain of conversion factors, the first to change yards to feet, the second to change feet to inches.

\[ \begin{aligned} 4 \text{ yd} = 4 \text{ yd} \cdot \frac{3 \text{ ft}}{1 \text{ yd}} \cdot \frac{12 \text{ in}}{1 \text{ ft}} ~ & \textcolor{red}{ \text{ Multiply by conversion factors.}} \\ = 4 \cancel{ \text{ yd}} \cdot \frac{3 \cancel{ \text{ ft}}{1 \cancel{ \text{ yd}} \cdot \frac{12 \text{ in}}{1 \cancel{ \text{ ft}}} ~ & \textcolor{red}{ \text{ Cancel common units.}} \\ = \frac{4 \cdot 3 \cdot 12}{1 \cdot 1} \text{ in} ~ & \textcolor{red}{ \text{ Multiply fractions.}} \\ = 144 \text{ in} ~ & \textcolor{red}{ \text{ Simplify.}} \end{aligned}\nonumber \]

Hence, 4 yards equals 144 inches.

Exercise

Change 8 yards to inches.

Answer

288 inches

Example 5

Change 2 miles to yards.

Solution

We multiply by a chain of conversion factors, the first to change miles to feet, the second to change feet to yards.

2 mi=2 mi5280 ft1 mi1 yd3 ft  Multiply by conversion factors.=2 mi5280 ft1 mi1 yd3 ft  Cancel common units.=25280113 yd  Multiply fractions.=3520 yd  Simplify.

Hence, 2 miles equals 3,520 yards.

Exercise

Change 5 miles to yards.

Answer

8,800 yards

Units of Weight

The most common units of weight are the ounce, pound, and ton. Our focus will remain on how to convert from one unit to another.

American Units of Weight

Facts relating common units of weight.

  • 1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz)
  • 1 ton = 2000 pounds (lb)

The above facts lead to the conversion factors in Table 6.2.

Table 6.2: Conversion factors for units of weight.
Convert Conversion Factor Convert Conversion Factor
pounds to ounces 16 oz/1 lb ounces to pounds 1 lb/16 oz
tons to pounds 2000 lb/1 ton pounds to tons 1 ton/2000 lb
Example 6

Change 212 pounds to ounces.

Solution

Multiply by the appropriate conversion factor.

212 lb=212 lb16 oz1 lb  Multiply by conversion factor.=212 lb16 oz1 lb  Cancel common units.=(21216) oz  Multiply fractions.=(5216) oz  Mixed to improper fraction.=802 oz  Multiply.=40 oz  Divide.

Hence, 212 pounds equals 40 ounces.

Exercise

Change 614 pounds to ounces.

Answer

100 ounces

Example 7

Change 3.2 tons to ounces.

Solution

This exercise requires multiplying by a chain of conversion factors.

3.2 ton =3.2 ton 2000 lb1 ton16 oz1 lb  Multiply by conversion factors.=3.2 ton2000 lb1 ton16 oz1 lb  Cancel common units.=3.220001611 oz  Multiply fractions.=102,400 oz  Simplify.

Hence, 3.2 tons equals 102,400 ounces.

Exercise

Change 4.1 tons to ounces.

Answer

128,000 ounces

Units of Volume

The most common units of volume are fluid ounces, cups, pints, quarts, and gallons. We will focus on converting from one unit to another.

American Units of Volume

Facts relating common units of volume.

  • 1 cup (c) = 8 fluid ounces (fl oz)
  • 1 pint (pt) = 2 cups (c)
  • 1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt)
  • 1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts (qt)

These facts lead to the conversion factors listed in Table 6.3.

Table 6.3: Conversion factors for units of volume.
Convert Conversion Factor Convert Conversion Factor
cups to ounces 8 fl oz/1 c ounces to cups 1c/8 fl oz
pints to cups 2 c/1 pt cups to pints 1 pt/2 c
quarts to pints 2 pt/1 qt pints to quarts 1 qt/2 pt
gallons to quarts 4 qt/1 gal quarts to gallons 1 gal/4 qt
Example 8

Change 5.6 gallons to pints.

Solution

This exercise requires multiplying by a chain of conversion factors.

5.6 gal =5.6 gal 4 qt1 gal2 pt1 qt  Multiply by conversion factors.=5.6 gal 4 qt1 gal2 pt1 qt  Cancel common units.=5.64211 pt  Multiply fractions.=44.8 pt  Simplify.

Hence, 5.6 gallons equals 44.8 pints.

Exercise

Change 3.2 gallons to pints.

Answer

25.6 pints

Units of Time

The most common units of time are seconds, minutes, hours, days, and years.

American Units of Time

Facts relating common units of time.

  • 1 minute (min) = 60 seconds (s)
  • 1 hour (hr) = 60 minutes (min)
  • 1 day (day) = 24 hours (hr)
  • 1 year (yr) = 365 days (day)

These facts lead to the conversion factors in Table 6.4.

Table 6.4: Conversion factors for units of time.
Convert Conversion Factor Convert Conversion Factor
minutes to seconds 60 s/1 min seconds to minutes 1 min/60 s
hours to minutes 60 min/1 hr minutes to hours 1 hr/60 min
days to hours 24 hr/1 day hours to days 1 day/24 hr
years to days 365 day/1 yr days to years 1 yr/365 day
Example 9

How many seconds in a year?

Solution

A chain of conversion factors is needed.

1 yr =1 yr 365 day1 yr24 hr1 day60 min1 hr60 s1 min  Conversion factors.=1 yr365 day1 yr24 hr1 day60 min1 hr60 s1 min Cancel common units.=13652460601111 s  Multiply fractions.=31,536,000 s  Simplify.

Thus, 1 year equals 31,536,000 seconds.

Exercise

How many seconds in a day?

Answer

86,400 seconds

Converting Units of Speed

Ever wonder how fast a baseball is moving?

Example 10

A professional pitcher can throw a baseball at 95 miles per hour. How fast is this in feet per second? Round your answer to the nearest foot per second.

Solution

There are 5280 feet in a mile, 60 minutes in an hour, and 60 seconds in a minute.

95mih95mih5280 ft1 mi1 h60 min1 min60 s  Conversion factors.95mih5280 ft1 mi1 h60 min1 min60 s  Cancel common units.9552801116060fts  Multiply fractions.139.3fts  Multiply and divide.

To round to the nearest foot per second, identify the rounding and test digits.

Screen Shot 2019-09-20 at 12.42.19 PM.png

Because the test digit is less than 5, leave the rounding digit alone and truncate. Thus, to the nearest foot per second, the speed is approximately 139 feet per second.

Whew! Since the batter stands at home plate, which is about 60 feet from where the pitch is delivered, the batter has less than 1/2 a second to react to the pitch!

Exercise

A women’s softball pitcher can throw her fastball at 60 miles per hour. How fast is this in feet per second? Round your answer to the nearest foot per second.

Answer

88 feet per second

Exercises

1. Change 8 yards to feet.

2. Change 60 yards to feet.

3. Change 261 feet to yards.

4. Change 126 feet to yards.

5. Change 235 inches to yards. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a yard.

6. Change 244 inches to yards. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a yard.

7. Change 141 feet to yards.

8. Change 78 feet to yards.

9. Change 2.8 miles to feet.

10. Change 4.9 miles to feet.

11. Change 104 inches to yards. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a yard.

12. Change 101 inches to yards. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a yard.

13. Change 168,372 inches to miles, correct to the nearest tenth of a mile.

14. Change 198,550 inches to miles, correct to the nearest tenth of a mile.

15. Change 82 feet to inches.

16. Change 80 feet to inches.

17. Change 2.9 yards to inches. Round your answer to the nearest inch.

18. Change 4.5 yards to inches. Round your answer to the nearest inch.

19. Change 25,756 feet to miles. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a mile.

20. Change 19,257 feet to miles. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a mile.

21. Change 5 yards to feet.

22. Change 20 yards to feet.

23. Change 169,312 inches to miles, correct to the nearest tenth of a mile.

24. Change 162,211 inches to miles, correct to the nearest tenth of a mile.

25. Change 1.5 yards to inches. Round your answer to the nearest inch.

26. Change 2.1 yards to inches. Round your answer to the nearest inch.

27. Change 360 inches to feet.

28. Change 768 inches to feet.

29. Change 48 inches to feet.

30. Change 528 inches to feet.

31. Change 15,363 feet to miles. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a mile.

32. Change 8,540 feet to miles. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a mile.

33. Change 1.7 miles to inches.

34. Change 4.7 miles to inches.

35. Change 3.1 miles to inches.

36. Change 1.8 miles to inches.

37. Change 3.6 miles to feet.

38. Change 3.1 miles to feet.

39. Change 18 feet to inches.

40. Change 33 feet to inches.


41. Change 518 pounds to ounces.

42. Change 3116 pounds to ounces.

43. Change 2.4 tons to ounces.

44. Change 3.4 tons to ounces.

45. Change 34 ounces to pounds. Express your answer as a fraction reduced to lowest terms.

46. Change 78 ounces to pounds. Express your answer as a fraction reduced to lowest terms.

47. Change 2.2 tons to pounds.

48. Change 4.8 tons to pounds.

49. Change 70 ounces to pounds. Express your answer as a fraction reduced to lowest terms.

50. Change 20 ounces to pounds. Express your answer as a fraction reduced to lowest terms.

51. Change 9,560 pounds to tons. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a ton.

52. Change 9,499 pounds to tons. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a ton.

53. Change 212 pounds to ounces.

54. Change 7116 pounds to ounces.

55. Change 5.9 tons to pounds.

56. Change 2.1 tons to pounds.

57. Change 2.5 tons to ounces.

58. Change 5.3 tons to ounces.

59. Change 8,111 pounds to tons. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a ton.

60. Change 8,273 pounds to tons. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a ton.


61. Change 4.5625 pints to fluid ounces.

62. Change 2.9375 pints to fluid ounces.

63. Change 32 fluid ounces to pints.

64. Change 160 fluid ounces to pints.

65. Change 3.7 gallons to pints.

66. Change 2.4 gallons to pints.

67. Change 216 pints to gallons.

68. Change 96 pints to gallons.

69. Change 544 fluid ounces to pints.

70. Change 432 fluid ounces to pints.

71. Change 112 pints to gallons.

72. Change 200 pints to gallons.

73. Change 7.7 gallons to pints.

74. Change 5.7 gallons to pints.

75. Change 3.875 pints to fluid ounces.

76. Change 3 pints to fluid ounces.


77. Change 7.8 years to hours.

78. Change 4.7 years to hours.

79. Change 7.6 years to hours.

80. Change 6.6 years to hours.

81. Change 4,025,005 seconds to days. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a day.

82. Change 4,672,133 seconds to days. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a day.

83. Change 37,668 hours to years.

84. Change 40,296 hours to years.

85. Change 22,776 hours to years.

86. Change 29,784 hours to years.

87. Change 96 days to seconds.

88. Change 50 days to seconds.

89. Change 40 days to seconds.

90. Change 10 days to seconds.

91. Change 3,750,580 seconds to days. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a day.

92. Change 4,493,469 seconds to days. Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a day.


93. Change 367 feet per second to miles per hour. Round your answer to the nearest mile per hour.

94. Change 354 feet per second to miles per hour. Round your answer to the nearest mile per hour.

95. Change 442 feet per second to miles per hour. Round your answer to the nearest mile per hour.

96. Change 388 feet per second to miles per hour. Round your answer to the nearest mile per hour.

97. Change 30 miles per hour to feet per second. Round your answer to the nearest foot per second.

98. Change 99 miles per hour to feet per second. Round your answer to the nearest foot per second.

99. Change 106 miles per hour to feet per second. Round your answer to the nearest foot per second.

100. Change 119 miles per hour to feet per second. Round your answer to the nearest foot per second.


101. Strong man. Famed strongman Joe Rollino, who was still bending quarters with his fingers at age 104, once lifted 3, 200 pounds at Coney Island Amusement Park. How many tons did Joe lift that day? Associated Press-Times-Standard 01/12/10 NYC amusement park strongman, 104, killed by van.

102. Earth day. The amount of time it takes the Earth to rotate once around its axis is one day. How many seconds is that?

103. Water break. “The average age of Washington, DC’s water pipes is 76 years, and they are not alone. Every two minutes, somewhere in the country, a pipe breaks.” How many pipes break each year in the US? New York Times 03/14/10 Saving U.S. water and sewer systems could be costly.


Answers

1. 24 feet

3. 87 yards

5. 6.5 yards

7. 47 yards

9. 14,784 feet

11. 2.9 yards

13. 2.7 miles

15. 984 inches

17. 104 inches

19. 4.9 miles

21. 15 feet

23. 2.7 miles

25. 54 inches

27. 30 feet

29. 4 feet

31. 2.9 miles

33. 107,712 inches

35. 196,416 inches

37. 19,008 feet

39. 216 inches

41. 82 ounces

43. 76,800 ounces

45. 218 pounds

47. 4,400 pounds

49. 438 pounds

51. 4.8 tons

53. 40 ounces

55. 11,800 pounds

57. 80,000 ounces

59. 4.1 tons

61. 73 fluid ounces

63. 2 pints

65. 29.6 pints

67. 27 gallons

69. 34 pints

71. 14 gallons

73. 61.6 pints

75. 62 fluid ounces

77. 68,328 hours

79. 66,576 hours

81. 46.6 days

83. 4.3 years

85. 2.6 years

87. 8,294,400 seconds

89. 3,456,000 seconds

91. 43.4 days

93. 250 mi/hr

95. 301 mi/hr

97. 44 ft/s

99. 155 ft/s

101. 1.6 tons

103. 262, 800


This page titled 6.4: Unit Conversion - American System is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by David Arnold.

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