Overview:
In the United States, two separate measurement systems are used, the conventional or English system and the metric system. The conventional system with inches, pounds, cups, and quarts, is in use in many aspects of everyday life, in carpentry, and in many trades, while the metric system is used in science, medicine, and many other fields. Some manufacturing is done using the metric system, while other manufacturing is done with the conventional system.
Why Convert Between Systems?
Many countries throughout the world use the metric system in all areas of life. It is important to know the relationship between kilometers and miles when traveling in Canada, or the relationship of liters and quarts, kilograms and pounds. When importing or exporting goods throughout the world, conversions between the conventional and metric systems are essential.
Converting Between Length Measurements
One length measurement is an exact conversion. One inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters. However, the other length measurements are approximate, so that 1 meter is approximately 39.37 inches, and 1 kilometer is approximately 0.62 miles. (The mathematical sign ≈ means approximately equal to.) Many highway signs in Canada state a speed limit of 90 km/hr or 100 km/hr. A quick estimation without a calculator is that 1 km is about 3/5 of a mile, so that 90 km/hr is about 55 miles per hour, and 100 km/hr is about 60 miles per hour. That’s good to know to avoid a speeding ticket.
Converting Between Weight Measurements
Weight measurements between the conventional and metric systems are approximations, so that 1 kilogram (kg) is approximately 2.2 pounds. A kilogram block of cheese is going to weigh more than a two-pound block. Suppose a weight is 5 kilograms. On the other end of the scale one will need a weight of (5 times 2.2) or about 11 conventional pounds to balance it. Similarly, if a weight is 15 pounds, its weight in kilograms will be (15\2.2), about 6.82 kilograms.
Converting Between Volume Measurements
A liter is approximately 1.06 quarts, so that a 2 liter bottle of soda is about 2.12 quarts of soda. Conversions become difficult between conventional volumes and metric volumes, because we use other measurements than quarts. For example, gasoline is measured in gallons, and there are 4 quarts in a gallon, or about 4.24 liters. Suppose a tank holds 20 gallons. That would be 80 quarts or about (80 times 1.06) 84.8 liters.
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