Length, Area, Volume, Mass
18.5.1 Length, Area, Volume, Mass
Measurements of length, area, volume, and mass are reported by means of metric units rather than English units (Table 1). In less formal, nonscientific texts such as essays, use of nonmetric units, such as miles or inches, and the use of idioms, such as “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” are acceptable. In addition, if the nonmetric unit was used as part of a survey or questionnaire, the original measure should be retained.
The patients were asked, “Do you have difficulty walking 15 feet?”
Table 1. Conversions to Metric Measures
Symbol |
Known Quantity |
Multiply by |
To Find |
Metric Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Length |
||||
in |
inches |
2.54 |
centimeters |
cm |
ft |
feet |
30 |
centimeters |
cm |
ft |
feet |
0.3 |
meters |
m |
yd |
yards |
0.9 |
meters |
m |
miles |
1.6 |
kilometers |
km |
|
Area |
||||
sq in |
square inches |
6.5 |
square centimeters |
cm2 |
sq ft |
square feet |
0.09 |
square meters |
m2 |
sq yd |
square yards |
0.8 |
square meters |
m2 |
square miles |
2.6 |
square kilometers |
km2 |
|
Mass |
||||
oz |
ounces |
28 |
grams |
g |
lb |
pounds |
0.45 |
kilograms |
kg |
Volume |
||||
tsp |
teaspoons |
5 |
milliliters |
mL |
tbsp |
tablespoons |
15 |
milliliters |
mL |
fl oz |
fluid ounces |
30 |
milliliters |
mL |
c |
cups |
0.24 |
liters |
L |
pt |
US pints |
0.47 |
liters |
L |
qt |
US quarts |
0.95 |
liters |
L |
gal |
US gallons |
3.8 |
liters |
L |
cu ft |
cubic feet |
0.03 |
cubic meters |
m3 |
cu yd |
cubic yards |
0.76 |
cubic meters |
m3 |