How do you convert units of measurements?

Answer 1

There is no single formula. It depends on what units you start with and what units you want to convert to. Some times the conversion is not valid, that is, it makes no sense.

Using dimensional analysis. Take the starting unit and use conversion rates you are familiar with to get to the unit you are trying to convert to. An example is below. Here we want to convert from feet to meters. Most don't remember that 1 ft = 0.3048 meters, but many know 1 in = 2.54 cm. Along with that, nearly everyone knows 1 ft = 12 cm and there are 100 cm in a meter.

So breaking down what we know in order, we get the following equation, which allows us to convert from feet to meters.

Algebraic Steps / Dimensional Analysis1 ft*12 in

1 ft*2.54 cm

1 in*1 m

100 cm=0.3048 m

Answer 2

1. You remember, ask, calculate, or look up the conversion factor.

2. You multiply or divide by this conversion factor.

Example: Convert 17 cubic meters to liters.

1. A cubic meter = 1000 liters

2. Multiply the 17 cubic meters by 1000, to convert to liters.

When do you multiply, and when do you divide? One way is to include the units in the conversion, as follows:

(17 cubic meters) x (1000 liters / 1 cubic meter) = 17000 liters - note that the cubic meters cancel in the numerator and the denominator

Now try it the other way:

(17 cubic meters) x (1 cubic meter / 1000 liters) = 17 cubic meters squared / 1000 liters - while the answer is technically correct, you didn't manage to convert to liters, so the first approach is the correct in this case

Answer 3

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