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Converting Units of Measure

Now we will begin to convert units within a given measurement system to include length, weight/mass, and volume.

Who gets the conversions? During this activity, you will work in groups chosen by me. Look at the gallon container (tea jug), the quart container (Mayo Jar), the pint container (water bottle), and the cup container (measuring cup).

Your challenge is to determine how many of each of the smaller containers is needed to fill the gallon jug. You must determine how many of the quart, pint, and cup containers it will take. Record your findings. This is a competition to see which team can figure it out first. Let’s share what each group thinks. Now you must determine how many pints and cups it takes to make a quart. How many cups it takes to make a pint. How many quarts, pints, and cups would you need to make two gallons, or five gallons, or ten gallons.

It is often necessary to convert from one measurement to another. Can you tell me of other examples of times that this would be necessary? For the next several days, you will be working on converting measurements of length, mass/weight, and volume.

To convert simply means to change from one to another (for example: to change from inches to feet or cups to quarts). First you will be practicing conversions for volume. Second you will practice conversion for mass/weight. And last you will practice conversions for length.

These measurements are for measuring the amount of space a substance takes up. You need to write this down and memorize it. It will help you tremendously when working with conversions. Common English Conversions for Volume 3 teaspoons (t) = 1 tablespoons (T) 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces (fl oz) 1 pint (pt) = 2 cups (c) or 16 fluid ounces (fl oz) 1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt) or 4 cups (c) or 32 fluid ounces (fl oz) 1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts (qt)

Handout #1 The “G” represents one gallon. The four “Q’s” represent the four quarts in a gallon. The “P’s” represent the two pints in each quart and eight pints in one gallon. The “C’s” represent the two cups in each pint, the four cups in each quart, and the sixteen cups in each gallon. Practice drawing this, memorize it, and use it to assist you in remembering these conversions.

Often, measuring instruments or containers are not available or when working with large amounts it would be time consuming and inefficient to measure for every conversion. There is a mathematical way to determine the equivalencies for different units of measurement.

When converting from a smaller unit to a larger unit use division. “Sally Likes to Dally” Small to Large Divide When converting from a larger unit to a smaller unit use multiplication. “Lilly Sings with Milly” Large to Small Multiply

These operations and memory aids will be used for other measurement units too. There will be a different one for the metric system that will make it easier to convert.

Write down each of these examples as we work them: Convert 6 cups to pints. Conversion Rate: 2c = 1p Small to Large Divide Sally Likes to Dally So, 6 ÷ 2 = 3 6 cups = 3 pints

Example #2: Convert 32 cups to gallons. Conversion Rate: 16c = 1gal Small to Large Divide Sally Likes to Dally So, 32 ÷ 16 = 2 32 cups = 2 gallons

Example #3: Convert 5 quarts to cups. Conversion Rate: 4c = 1qt Large to Small Multiply Lilly Sings with Milly So, 5 x 4 = 20 5 quarts = 20 cups

Example #4: Convert 12 pints to fluid ounces Conversion Rate: 16fl oz = 1p Large to Small Multiply Lilly Sings with Milly So, 12 x 16 = pints = 192 fluid ounces

Example #5: Convert 2 gallons to fluid ounces Conversions Rate: 32fl oz = 1qt and 4qt = 1gal Large to Small Multiply Lilly Sings with Milly So, 2 x 4 = 8 2 gallons = 8 quarts And, 8 x 32 = quarts = 256 fluid ounces Therefore, 2 gallons = 256 fluid ounces

Now it is your turn: 1) 64 c = ____ qt 2) 7 pt = ____ c 3) 8 gal = ____ pt 4) 88 fl oz = ____ c 5) 9 T = ____ tsp

Closure: Today we have worked on volume in the English system converting from one unit to another. Tomorrow, we will work on volume in the metric system.

Homework: Study the “Gallon Man” chart from your notebooks. You will take the sheet home and memorize conversions.