1.

2 Unit Conversion

To work with objects with varying sizes, one needs to be able to convert large and small
measurements quickly. Unit conversion is a process that every scientist, engineer, and even
ordinary individual must learn and understand because not all countries around the world are
using the standard (SI) metric system.

1.2.1 Conversion of SI Units

The SI system, unlike other measurement systems, makes conversion simple because
prefixes are based on groups of ten. (see Table 4)

Table 4: SI Prefixes Chart

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 In Table 4, note that the prefixes "kilo", "hecto", "centi" and "milli" are used very frequently
(light blue); the prefixes "mega", "deca" (or “deka”), "deci" and "micro" are are used less frequently
(light red), while the remaining prefixes (light purple) are rarely used (other than for extremely
large or small numbers in science).

Converting between equivalent units with different prefixes can usually be done by
multiplying the given quantity by one (1) in a special form.

The following ratios are equivalent to one since any non-zero number divided by itself is
equal to one.

Moreover, since and , then the following ratios are

Example 1. Convert to dekacandela (dacd).

Solution:

To convert candela (cd) into dekacandela (dacd), eliminate candela (cd) by multiplying the given
measured quantity by one in the form , i.e.,

( )

Hence, .

Example 2. Convert to kiloseconds (ks).

Solution:

To eliminate millisecond (ms), multiply the given measured quantity by one in the form ,
i.e.,

( )(1)
The conversion process above will then introduce the second (s) unit. Thus, to eliminate
introduced units of “s” and produce the desired units of “ks”, multiply (1) by one in the form
, i.e.,

( )( )

Hence, .

Try this!

1. Convert to .
2. Convert to .

1.2.2 Unit Conversion of the US Customary System and the SI System

As the measurement system continues to evolve over several centuries, only two
types of measurement systems are distinguished historically. These are US Customary System
of Units, which grew more or less ambiguously out of custom, and The International System
of Units or “SI System”, which is a unified, planned system used by the world’s scientific
community and by most nations. Each system uses different set of units for measuring things.

The US Customary System of Units uses units that have no predictable relationship to
each other. For instance, there are 16 ounces in a pound, but 2,000 pounds in a ton. To convert
units under this system, divide or multiply according to the relationship between the two given
units.

The SI System, on the contrary, is made of units based on powers of 10, which makes it a
lot easier for us to recall the conversion formulas and to apply them in a unit conversion
process.
Table 5
METRIC CONVERSIONS (US CUSTOMARY, SI, AND EQUIVALENTS)
A. UNITS OF LENGTH IN B. US CUSTOMARY C. UNITS OF TIME IN BOTH
THE US CUSTOMARY SYSTEM SYSTEMS
SYSTEM SI CONVERSIONS FOR
LENGTH 1 minute (min) = 60 seconds (s)
1 foot (ft) = 12 inches (in) 1 hour (hr) = 60 minutes (min)
1 yard (yd) = 3 feet (ft) 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
1 hour (hr) = 3,600 seconds (s)
1 yard (yd) = 36 inches (in) 1 meter ≈ 3.28 feet
1 day ≈ 24 hours (hrs)
1 mile ≈ 1.61 kilometers
1 mile (mi) = 5,280 feet (ft) 1 foot ≈ 0.30 meters 1month (mo) ≈ 30 days
1 yard ≈ 0.91 meters 1 year (yr) ≈ 365 days
1 kilometer ≈ 0.62 miles 1 banking year (banking yr) =
360 days
D. UNITS OF E. UNITS OF MASS/ F. US CUSTOMARY SYSTEM
MASS/WEIGHT IN THE US WEIGHT IN THE SI SYSTEM SI CONVERSIONS FOR
CUSTOMARY SYSTEM MASS/WEIGHT
1 tonne or metric ton (t) =
1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces 1,000 kg 1 ounce ≈ 28.3 grams
(oz) 1 pound ≈ 0.45 kilograms
1 ton (T) = 2,000 pounds (lb)
G. UNITS OF AREA IN H. UNITS OF AREA IN THE I. US CUSTOMARY SYSTEM
THE US CUSTOMARY SI SYSTEM SI CONVERSIONS FOR
SYSTEM AREA
1 are (a) = 100 m2
1 ft = 144 in
2 2
1 hectare (ha) = 100 a 1 in2 ≈ 6.45 cm2
1 yd2 = 9 ft2 1 m2 ≈ 1.196 yd2
1 acre = 43,560 ft2 1 ha ≈ 2.47 acres
1 mi2 = 640 acres
J. UNITS OF VOLUME IN K. UNITS OF VOLUME IN L. US CUSTOMARY SYSTEM
THE US CUSTOMARY THE SI SYSTEM SI CONVERSIONS FOR
SYSTEM VOLUME
1 ft3 = 1,728 in3 1 cc = 1 cm3
1 yd3 = 27 ft3 1 in3 ≈ 16.39 mL
1 milliliter (mL) = 1 cm3
1 liter (L) ≈ 1.06 quarts (qt)
1 cord = 128 ft3
1 gallon (gal) ≈ 3.79 liters (L)
1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
1 m3 ≈ 35.31 ft3
1 fluid ounce (fl oz) = 2
tablespoons 1 quart (qt) ≈ 0.95 liters (L)

1 cup (c) = 8 fl oz
1 pint (pt) = 2 cups (c)
1 qt = 2 pints (pt)
1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts (qt)
1 gallon (gal) = 128 fl oz
M. UNITS OF TEMPERATURE IN BOTH SYSTEMS
: :

: :

: :
Example 1. Convert to yards (yd)

Solution:

Both miles (mi) and yards (yd) belong to the US Customary System of Units of Length. Referring
to Table 5.A, we see that the appropriate conversion formulas to use are as follows:

To convert miles (mi) into yards (yd), multiply by one in the form ( )( ),
i.e.,

( )( )

Hence, .

Example 2. Convert to tons (T).

Solution:

The units of centigrams (cg) and tons (T) belong to the SI System of Mass/Weight and the US
Customary System of Mass/Weight, respectively. Referring to Table 4, Table 5.D and Table 5.F,
we see that the appropriate conversion formulas to use are as follows:

To convert centigrams (cg) into tons (T), multiply by one in the form

( )( )( )( ), i.e.,

( )( )( )( )

Hence, .*
* The use of equal sign (=) is not appropriate in this case since one of the multipliers, ( ), is derived only from the
approximated value of pounds in terms of kilograms, as shown in Table 5.F.

Example 3. Convert to cubic decimeters (dm3). Round off your answer to the nearest
hundredths.

Solution:

The units of cords and cubic decimeters (dm3) belong to the SI System of Volume and the US
Customary System of Volume, respectively. Referring to Table 4,Table 5.J and Table 5.L, we
see that the appropriate conversion formulas to use are as follows:

To convert cords into cubic decimeters (dm3), multiply by one in the form

( )( )( ) ( )( )( ) , i.e.,

( )( )( )

Hence, .

Try this! Convert the following measurements. Round off your answers to the nearest
hundredths, if possible.

1. to .
2. to .
3. to Kelvin (K)