Converting Units of Measure
If 36 inches equal 1 yard, 3 yards equal how many inches?
Intuitively, 3 × 36 = 108 in
By proportion, using yards over inches,
Remember: Place the same units across from each other—for example, inches across from inches. Then solve.
Cross multiply.
x = 108 in
If 2.2 pounds equal 1 kilogram, 10 pounds equal approximately how many kilograms?
Intuitively, 10 ÷ 2.2 ≈ 4.5 kg
By proportion, using kilograms over pounds,
Cross multiply.
2.2 x = 10
Divide and round off to the nearest tenth.
Change 3 decades into weeks.
1 decade equals 10 years, so 3 decades equal 30 years.
1 year equals 52 weeks, so
Therefore, there are 1,560 weeks in 3 decades.
Notice that this was converted step by step. It can be done in one step, as follows:
3 × 10 × 52 = 1,560 weeks.
If 1,760 yards equal 1 mile, how many yards are in 5 miles?
Therefore, there are 8,800 yards in 5 miles.
If 1 kilometer equals 1,000 meters, and 1 dekameter equals 10 meters, how many dekameters are in 3 kilometers?
Since there are 1,000 meters in one kilometer, there will be 3,000 meters in 3 kilometers. Now use a proportion that compares dekameters with meters
Therefore, there are 300 dekameters in 3 kilometers.