Lesson 3: Imperial Units and Conversion - Common Conversion Ratios

   Constructing Knowledge

The conversion factors for the imperial system are not multiples of 10, meaning decimal point movement does not work for a conversion strategy. Also imperial measurements are often expressed as fractions instead of decimals.

The following table lists some common imperial conversion ratios.

Imperial Conversion Table
Linear Possible Uses for the Larger Unit
12 inches = 1 foot length of a fence board, or height of a person
3 feet = 1 yard
36 inches = 1 yard 		dimensions of a backyard, or length of a football field
1760 yards = 1 mile distance between two towns, or distance run in a marathon
Mass
16 ounces = 1 pound weight of a person, a baby, some food, or an object
2000 pounds = 1 ton weight of a vehicle, dirt, gravel, or construction material
Capacity
2 cups = 1 pint amount of beverage served in a large glass
2 pints = 1 quart amount of ice cream in a carton
4 quarts = 1 gallon amount of fuel in a car


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