1. Section 8.4 Dimensional Analysis and Conversions to and from the Metric System

2. What You Will Learn Dimensional Analysis Unit Fractions
Conversions to and from the Metric System

3. Dimensional Analysis
Dimensional analysis is a procedure used to convert from one unit of measurement to a different unit of measurement.

4. Dimensional Analysis
A unit fraction is any fraction in which the numerator and denominator contain different units and the value of the fraction is 1.
Examples of unit fractions:

5. U.S. Customary Units 1 pint = 2 cups 1 year = 365 days
1 cup (liquid) = 8 fluid ounces
1 day = 24 hours
1 ton = 2000 pounds
1 hour = 60 minutes
1 pound = 16 ounces
1 minute = 60 seconds
1 mile = 5280 feet
1 gallon = 4 quarts
1 yard = 3 feet
1 quart = 2 pints
1 foot = 12 inches
U.S. Customary Units

6. Example 1: Using Dimensional Analysis
A container contains 26 ounces of salt. Convert 26 ounces to pounds.
Solution
Thus, 26 oz equals lb.

7. Example 3: Using Several Unit Fractions
Convert 60 miles per hour to feet per second.
Solution

8. Conversion to and from the Metric System - Length
U.S. to Metric
1 inch (in.) ≈ 2.54 centimeters (cm)
1 foot (ft) ≈ 30 centimeters (cm)
1 yard (yd) ≈ 0.9 meter (m)
1 mile (mi) ≈ 1.6 kilometers (km)

9. Conversion to and from the Metric System - Area
U.S. to Metric
1 square inch (in.2) ≈ 6.5 square centimeters (cm2)
1 square foot (ft2) ≈ 0.09 square meter (m2)
1 square yard (yd2) ≈ 0.8 square meter (m2)
1 square mile (mi2) ≈ 2.6 square kilometers (km2)
1 acre ≈ 0.4 hectare (ha)

10. Conversion to and from the Metric System - Area
VOLUME
U.S. to Metric
1 teaspoon (tsp) ≈ 5 milliliters (ml)
1 tablespoon (tbsp) ≈ 15 milliliters (ml)
1 fluid ounce (fl oz) ≈ 30 milliliters (ml)
1 cup (c) ≈ 0.24 liter (l)
1 pint (pt) ≈ 0.47 liter (l)

11. Conversion to and from the Metric System - Volume
U.S. to Metric
1 quart (qt) ≈ 0.95 liter (l)
1 gallon (gal) ≈ 3.8 liters (l)
1 cubic foot (ft3) ≈ 0.03 cubic meter (m3)
1 cubic yard (yd3) ≈ 0.76 cubic meter (m3)

12. Conversion to and from the Metric System – Weight (Mass)
WEIGHT OR MASS
U.S. to Metric
1 ounce (oz) ≈ 28 grams (g)
1 pound (lb) ≈ 0.45 kilogram (kg)
1 ton (T) ≈ 0.9 tonne (t)

13. Example 4: Volume and Length Conversions
a) A recipe requires 3½ cups of chicken broth. How many liters does this amount equal?
Solution

14. Example 4: Volume and Length Conversions
b) A man measures 1.86 m. What is his height in feet?
Solution

15. Example 5: Area Conversion
An area of hectares is for sale. Find the area in acres.
Solution

16. Example 7: Administering a Medicine
A nurse must administer 4 cc of codeine elixir to a patient.
a) How many milliliters of the drug will be administered?
Solution
Since 1 cc = 1 ml, the nurse will administer 4 ml of the drug.

17. Example 7: Administering a Medicine
b) How many ounces is this dosage equivalent to?
Solution

18. Example 10: Determining Dosage by Weight
Drug dosage is often administered according to a patient’s weight. For example, 30 mg of the drug vancomycin is to be given for each kilogram of a person’s weight. If Martha Greene, who weighs 136 lb, is to be given the drug, what dosage should she be given?

19. Example 10: Determining Dosage by Weight
Solution
30 mg, 136 lb
Amount
of drug