Lesson 3: Imperial Units and Conversion - Measurements with Multiple Units

   Constructing Knowledge

Some measurements, such as feet and inches or hours and minutes, are commonly reported together. For example, someone’s height may be reported as 5 feet and 9 inches instead of 69 inches. These measurements can be thought of as separate measurements added together.

For example, 3 hours and 14 minutes = 3 h + 14 min.

To convert a measurement with multiple units into a measurement with a single unit, use unit conversions to express all parts in terms of the same unit, and then add the values.

EXAMPLE 1

Convert 2 hours and 24 minutes into minutes.

Solution


Step 1: Convert the 2 hours into minutes.

\(\begin{align} y&=2\,\text{hours}\times \frac{60\,\text{minutes}}{\text{hour}} \\ \\ &=2\cancel{\text{hours}}\times \frac{60\,\text{minutes}}{\cancel{\text{hour}}} \\ \\ &=120\,\text{minutes} \\ \end{align}\)

Step 2: Add the two minute measurements.

total = 120 minutes + 24 minutes
= 144 minutes

   Multimedia


A video demonstrating conversion using multiple units is provided.



EXAMPLE 2

Convert 3 yards 2 feet and 7 inches to inches

Solution


Step 1: Convert the 3 yards into inches

\(3\,\text{yd}\times \frac{36\,\text{in}}{1\,\text{yd}}=108\,\text{in}\)

Step 2: Convert the 2 feet into inches

\(2\,\text{ft}\times \frac{12\,\text{in}}{1\,\text{ft}}=24\,\text{in}\)

Step 3: Add the three inch measurements

3 yd 2 ft 7 in = 108 in + 24 in + 7 in = 139 in

There are 139 inches in 3 yards 2 feet and 7 inches.


Now, it is your turn! Complete the questions in your Chapter 5, Lesson 3 Practice Makes Perfect that refer to Measurements with Multiple Units.



2014 © Alberta Distance Learning Centre