HOW TO CONVERT

Unit conversion is about changing one sort of measurement to another. It is used in science, business or even just day to life if you have in your mind what to multiply or divide by for differnt ratios You're set to go.

Pointrs to Remember

• Match kinds: Length becomes length, weight weight, and so on.
• Conversion factor: This is the figure which multiplies—say 1 inch equals 2.54 centimeters.
• Keep everything consistent: In multiplying or dividing make sure your units match up properly.

The neat trick

To convert from A to B, simply multiply by the factor. Example: 10 inches times 2.54 = 25.4 cm No bother at all.

Length and Distance

Some everyday conversions:

• 1 m = 100 cm = 1000 mm
• 1 km = 1000 m
• 1 in = 2.540 cm
• 1 ft = 12 in = 0.3048 m
• 1 yard = 3 ft = 0.9144 m
• 1 mile ≈ 1,609.344 m

Examples

5 miles → 8.05 km

72 inches → 1.83 m

Tricks of the Trade

• Pick metrics for science because they are neater and easier.*
• Looks for mixed systems—you can find some packaging and signs still have occasional imperial references*.

Weight and Mass

Weight conversions are all around us--from the gym to your kitchen table.

• 1 kg = 1000 g
• 1 lb = 0.4536 kg
• 1 oz = 28.35 g
• 1 stone = 14 lb ≈ 6.35 kg

A CaseHistory

150 lb × 0.4536 = 68.0 kg

Hint

Round off sensibly—say for a recipe or training plan use two or three digits.

Volume & Capacity

If you want to measure liquids, here is your cheat sheet:

• 1 L = 1000 mL
• 1 m³ = 1000 L
• 1 US gallon = 3.785 L
• 1 US pint = 0.473 L
• 1 UK gallon = 4.546 L

Example

2.5 US gallons × 3.785 = 9.46 L

Temperature

Since we’re shifting and scaling our values, temperature conversions are a little tricky.

• °C → °F: (°C × 9/5) + 32
• °F → °C: (°F − 32) × 5/9
• °C → K: °C + 273.15

Examples

25 °C = 77 °F

98.6 °F = 37 °C

Area

• 1 m² = 10.76 ft²
• 1 hectare = 2.47 acres
• 1 acre=4046.86 m²

Example

5 acres=20,234.3___________m²

Speed & Velocity

• 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h
• 1 mph ≈ 1.609 km/h

Example: 60 mph = 26.8 m/s

Pressure

• 1 atm = 101,325 Pa
• 1 psi ≈ 6894.76 Pa

Example: 14.7 psi ≈ 101,325 Pa (atmospheric pressure).

Energy & Power

• 1 cal = 4.184 J
• 1 kcal = 4184 J
• 1 kWh = 3.6 million J

Example: 500 kcal = 2092 kJ

Data Storage

• 1 KB = 1024 bytes
• 1MB = 1024KB
• 1 GB = 1024 MB

Note: Hard drives use 1000, computers use 1024--sneaky difference!

BMI Calculator--Quick Body Check

BMI’s a simple way to see if your weight’s in a healthy range for your height.

Formula: BMI = weight(kg) / (height(m))²

• Underweight:
• Normal:
• Overweight:
• Obese:

Example: 70 kg / (1.75²) = 22.86 → Normal weight.

Age Calculator--Figure Out How Long You've Been Around

Want your age in years, months and days? This tool breaks it down for you.

1. Enter your birthdate.
2. Compare it with today’s date.
3. Well Done: And Your Real Age

14th Currency Converter—Exchange Dollars into Anything

Shall I change from one currency to another? Can't get a firm grip on the latest exchange rates? Get help: Africa into Europe it isn’t difficult with the current phone rate for other countries. Here is a calculator that lets you stay current as the world turns.

The formula for this calculation is: target = source × rate(source→target)

In fact, one example can be seen from the above tables which give an exchange rate of 1 USD = 0.92 EUR: If you have 100 dollars in hand then that means 92 Euro will also go into your pocket.

20th Final Thoughts

Conversions between units are used more than you can imagine. Whether you’re doing something with your hands, cooking, counting money, or traveling — knowing how to switch between systems saves people time, trouble, and errors. Our products provide results quickly, correctly and easily for everyone.