Unit Conversions

Instructions

Welcome, scientist! Your challenge is to convert the following measurements. Remember to show your work and include the correct units in your final answer. You can use the conversion chart below for help.

Helpful Tip: When setting up your problem, remember the fraction rule:

What you have × (Unit you WANT / Unit you HAVE) = Your final answer!

Conversion Factors Chart

Metric System	English System	Between Systems
1 kilometer (km) = 1000 meters (m)	1 foot (ft) = 12 inches (in)	1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm)	1 yard (yd) = 3 feet (ft)	1 mile = 1.61 kilometers
1 meter (m) = 1000 millimeters (mm)	1 mile = 5280 feet (ft)	1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
1 kilogram (kg) = 1000 grams (g)	1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz)	1 gallon = 3.79 liters
1 liter (L) = 1000 milliliters (mL)	1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts (qt)
1 centimeter (cm) = 10 millimeters (mm)	1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt)

Section 1: Metric Mania (Metric to Metric)

Convert the following metric units.

• 3,500 meters to kilometers.
• 1.5 kilograms to grams.
• 250 milliliters to liters.
• 40 centimeters to millimeters.

Section 2: English Expedition (English to English)

Convert the following English units.

• 4 feet to inches.
• 36 feet to yards.
• 3 pounds to ounces.
• 2.5 gallons to quarts.

Section 3: Crossing the Border (Metric to English & Vice Versa)

Convert between the two systems of measurement.

• 10 inches to centimeters.
• 5 miles to kilometers.
• 11 pounds to kilograms.
• 2 liters to gallons.

Challenge Problems

These require more than one step!

• How many feet are in a 100-meter dash?
• An object weighs 3,500 grams. How many ounces does it weigh? (Hint: Go from grams to kilograms to pounds to ounces!)

Answers

Section 1: Metric Mania (Metric to Metric)

• 3,500 meters to kilometers: 3,500 m × (1 km / 1000 m) = 3.5 km
• 1.5 kilograms to grams: 1.5 kg × (1000 g / 1 kg) = 1500 g
• 250 milliliters to liters: 250 mL × (1 L / 1000 mL) = 0.25 L
• 40 centimeters to millimeters: 40 cm × (10 mm / 1 cm) = 400 mm

Section 2: English Expedition (English to English)

• 4 feet to inches: 4 ft × (12 in / 1 ft) = 48 in
• 36 feet to yards: 36 ft × (1 yd / 3 ft) = 12 yd
• 3 pounds to ounces: 3 lbs × (16 oz / 1 lb) = 48 oz
• 2.5 gallons to quarts: 2.5 gal × (4 qt / 1 gal) = 10 qt

Section 3: Crossing the Border (Metric to English & Vice Versa)

• 10 inches to centimeters: 10 in × (2.54 cm / 1 in) = 25.4 cm
• 5 miles to kilometers: 5 mi × (1.61 km / 1 mi) = 8.05 km
• 11 pounds to kilograms: 11 lbs × (1 kg / 2.2 lbs) = 5 kg
• 2 liters to gallons: 2 L × (1 gal / 3.79 L) = 0.53 gal (rounded to two decimal places)

Challenge Problems

How many feet are in a 100-meter dash?

First, meters to centimeters: 100 m × (100 cm / 1 m) = 10,000 cm

Then, centimeters to inches: 10,000 cm × (1 in / 2.54 cm) = 3937 in

Finally, inches to feet: 3937 in × (1 ft / 12 in) = 328.08 ft (rounded)

An object weighs 3,500 grams. How many ounces does it weigh?

First, grams to kilograms: 3,500 g × (1 kg / 1000 g) = 3.5 kg

Then, kilograms to pounds: 3.5 kg × (2.2 lbs / 1 kg) = 7.7 lbs

Finally, pounds to ounces: 7.7 lbs × (16 oz / 1 lb) = 123.2 oz