1. FBE05 – Mathematics and Statistics
Lecture 2 - Unit measurement and basic instrument

2. Units of measurement, in one form or another, have been with us for many centuries.
It is quite likely that the units for length and mass were the first ones to be invented. Our ancestors used the body parts as measuring instruments. Early Babylonian, Egyptian and other records indicate that length was measured with the forearm, hand or fingers.
As civilizations evolved, units of measurement became more complicated to cater for trade, land division, taxation and other uses.
Conversion of units may be done using a range of methods:
(a) Conversion factors
(b) Tables
(c) Graphs

3. Conversion factors

4. Conversion factors (a) 56 mm into metres (b) 445 mm into metres
(c) 5.4 m into centimetres
(d) 2 ft 5 in into millimetres
(e) 4 yd into metres
(f) 10 in into metres

5. Conversion factors

6. Graphical method
A graph can be plotted for any two units, and the resulting straight line used to convert one unit to the other. Figure 2.1 shows a graph that can be used to convert metres into feet and vice versa. Known conversion factors are used to plot the straight-line graph:
1 ft = m
10 ft = m
20 ft = m
30 ft = m
40 ft = m

7. Graphical method
In Figure 2.1 the x-axis is used for metres and y-axis for feet; however, the choice of an axis for a particular unit is immaterial. Using the scale shown in Figure 2.1, plot 4 points having the coordinates (3.048, 10), (6.096, 20), (9.144, 30), and (12.192, 40). Draw a straight line through all the points. This graph can be used to convert feet into metres and vice versa, as shown:

8. Graphical method

9. Graphical method
Draw a graph between feet and metres and use it to convert:
(a) 15 ft into metres
(b) 5 m into feet

10. Comparison Conversion factors with Graphical method
Convert:
(a) kg into grams
(b) kg into tonnes
(c) 505 g into ounces

11. Conversion factors

12. Graphical method
As explained a straight-line graph can be plotted between two units and used to convert one unit into the other. Figure 2.2 shows a graph that can be used to convert kilograms into pounds and vice versa. Known conversion factors are used to plot the straight-line graph:
1kg = lb
10 kg = lb
20 kg = lb
30 kg = lb