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Subject: "Conversions"     Previous Topic | Next Topic
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Conferences The CTK Exchange Middle school Topic #92
Reading Topic #92
Raelynn
Member since Jan-28-04
Jan-28-04, 04:26 PM (EST)
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"Conversions"
 
   Hi, I need help in doing these conversion. Mostly the fractions is what I am having trouble with.

1. Convert 2 1/2 ft to inches:
2.25 x 12 =
2 x12 = 24
24 plus 6 = 30 inches
correct?

2. Convert 2 7/8 ib to ounces
I cant fiqure the 7/8

3. Convert 13 qt to gall.
13 gt x 1 gall/4 gt
13/1 x 1 gall/4 =
13 gall/4 =
3 1/2
Right?
4. Convert 3 & 1/2 gal into pints using that same formula.
I need help in this one. thanks


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Graham C
Member since Feb-5-03
Jan-29-04, 09:09 AM (EST)
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1. "RE: Conversions"
In response to message #0
 
   >Hi, I need help in doing these conversion. Mostly the
>fractions is what I am having trouble with.
>
>1. Convert 2 1/2 ft to inches:
> 2.25 x 12 =
2 1/2 is not 2.25

> 2 x12 = 24
> 24 plus 6 = 30 inches
> correct?
Correct answer. I don't see how you got there, having gone wrong on the first step.
>
> 2. Convert 2 7/8 ib to ounces
> I cant fiqure the 7/8
I can't see why this is any harder than the first one unless you don't know there are 16 ounces to the pound (avoirdupois. anyway)
Can't you calculate 16 * 7/8?

>
>3. Convert 13 qt to gall.
> 13 gt x 1 gall/4 gt
> 13/1 x 1 gall/4 =
> 13 gall/4 =
> 3 1/2
> Right?
Wrong. 13/4 is right but 13/4 does not equal 3 1/2.

>4. Convert 3 & 1/2 gal into pints using that same formula.
> I need help in this one. thanks

As a general rule you may find it easier to convert something like 3 & 1/2 to 7/2. Do you know how to do that?

There are 8 pints to a gallon so multiply 7/2 x 8. Can you not do that?


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oxoalan
guest
May-25-04, 11:26 AM (EST)
 
2. "RE: Conversions"
In response to message #1
 
   Alternatively, move to a country using the metric system, and all you need to learn is conversion from fractions to decimals.

f/ alan


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dan
guest
Jul-20-04, 12:33 PM (EST)
 
3. "RE: Conversions"
In response to message #0
 
   >Hi, I need help in doing these conversion. Mostly the
>fractions is what I am having trouble with.
>
>1. Convert 2 1/2 ft to inches:
> 2.25 x 12 =
> 2 x12 = 24
> 24 plus 6 = 30 inches
> correct?
>
correct, but incorrect method


> 2. Convert 2 7/8 ib to ounces
> I cant fiqure the 7/8
>
1/8 lb = 2 oz
hence 7/8 lb = 14 oz
2 lb = 32 oz
2 7/8 lb = 14 + 32 = 46oz


>3. Convert 13 qt to gall.
> 13 gt x 1 gall/4 gt
> 13/1 x 1 gall/4 =
> 13 gall/4 =
> 3 1/2
> Right?
Wrong.
12/4 = 3
hence
13/4 = 3 1/4

>4. Convert 3 & 1/2 gal into pints using that same formula.
> I need help in this one. thanks
3 gal = 24 pints
1/2 gal = 4 pints
hence
3 1/2 gal = 24+4 = 28 pints (which is more than I can handle on a night out!)


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rewboss
guest
Aug-30-04, 11:14 AM (EST)
 
4. "RE: Conversions"
In response to message #0
 
   This was posted way back in January, so I guess the original point is now moot. However, there is another point worth bearing in mind.

All the respondants so far have assumed (almost certainly correctly) that the original poster was referring to US weights and measures. However, she (assuming Raelynn is a female name) did not state that.

One US pint is indeed sixteen ounces, meaning that one pint of water weighs exactly one pound. However, the Imperial pint (which is used in Britain and Canada, and other places as well) is more than that -- or, as the old rhyme says (which, for obvious reasons, Americans wouldn't know): "A pint of pure water weighs a pound and a quarter".

Actually, there's a good example of converting between fractions and units: One quarter of a pound is... how many ounces? An Imperial pint is... how many ounces? (An Imperial pound is still 16 ounces, by the way.)

It's worth remembering that, in an international medium like the internet (and mathematics, in fact), you can't assume everyone uses the same units as you, unless you use only SI units. It's safe to assume that the original poster was talking about US pints, but only because we can assume that her teachers would be unlikely to ask her to express 7/8 of an Imperial pint as units.

The difference between US and Imperial pints was mostly felt by Canadians or Americans filling up their cars on the other side of the border: the Imperial gallon is bigger than the US gallon, because it's the same number of pints in each case -- but it's a different pint.


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O
guest
Nov-15-04, 12:27 PM (EST)
 
5. "RE: Conversions"
In response to message #0
 
   2 1/2 is equal to 2.5 not 2.25!


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