Measure each item.

  1. mass of a book
  2. length of a highway



Complete each sentence.

  1. 8 in. = ? ft
  2. $6\text{ yd} =$ ? ft
  3. $24\text{ fl oz} =$ ? pt
  4. $3.7\text{ kg} =$ ?
  5. $4.2\text{ km} =$ ? m
  6. $285\text{ g} =$ ?

Verified Answer :

  • Select grams (g) for the mass of a book and kilometers (km) for the length of a highway.
  • Conversions performed:
  • \(8 \text{ in.} = \frac{2}{3} \text{ ft}\)
  • \(6 \text{ yd} = 18 \text{ ft}\)
  • \(24 \text{ fl oz} = 1.5 \text{ pt}\)
  • \(3.7 \text{ kg} = 3700 \text{ g}\)
  • \(4.2 \text{ km} = 4200 \text{ m}\)
  • \(285 \text{ g} = 0.285 \text{ kg}\)
  • Final answers: 1. \(\text{grams}\); 2. \(\text{kilometers}\); 3. \(\frac{2}{3}\); 4. \(18\); 5. \(1.5\); 6. \(3700\); 7. \(4200\); 8. \(0.285\).

Explanation

  1. Identifying Appropriate Units

To measure objects accurately, we select appropriate units based on the scale of the object. For the mass of a book, the most suitable unit is the gram (g), as books typically weigh between a few hundred grams to a kilogram. For the length of a highway, the kilometer (km) is an ideal metric unit to represent long distances.

  1. Converting US Customary Units

To convert 8 inches to feet, we use the conversion factor 1 foot = 12 inches. Therefore, 8 inches is \(\frac{8}{12} = \frac{2}{3}\) feet.
For the conversion of 6 yards to feet, we use the conversion factor 1 yard = 3 feet. Thus, 6 yards = \(6 \times 3 = 18\) feet.
For the conversion of 24 fluid ounces to pints, we use the conversion factor 1 pint = 16 fluid ounces. Thus, 24 fluid ounces = \(\frac{24}{16} = 1.5\) pints.

  1. Converting Metric Units

To convert 3.7 kilograms to grams, we use the conversion factor 1 kilogram = 1000 grams. So, 3.7 kg = \(3.7 \times 1000 = 3700\) grams.
For the conversion of 4.2 kilometers to meters, we use the conversion factor 1 kilometer = 1000 meters. So, 4.2 km = \(4.2 \times 1000 = 4200\) meters.
Finally, to convert 285 grams to kilograms, we use the conversion factor 1 kilogram = 1000 grams. So, 285 grams = \(\frac{285}{1000} = 0.285\) kilograms.

Examples

Understanding unit conversion is essential in daily life. For instance, when traveling, you might need to convert distances from kilometers to meters to estimate your walking time, or when baking, you might convert fluid ounces into cups or pints to follow a recipe accurately. These skills ensure you can handle different measurement systems effectively, whether you are managing household tasks, planning travel, or conducting scientific experiments.