US Conversion Steps (Dimensional Analysis) 1.Read the question to figure out what you have/know for information. The question will provide you with information that identifies your starting point and your final destination. Starting point = the number and unit provided by the question Final destination = the units desired after converting 2.Using the information gathered from the question, write your starting point and your final destination. 3.Determine the means in which you will get from your starting point to your final destination (simply find “connections” or conversion factors between your starting and final unit). 4.Create a fraction by placing your starting point over one. 5.Multiply between fractions. 6.Write in the bottom unit of the new fraction. This should be the same as the top unit of the previous fraction. 7.Write one set of “connections” or conversion factors into the fraction. Your bottom unit will guide you. 8.Ask yourself, “Do I have the desired unit (final destination) on the top of the new fraction?” NOYES 9.Cancel any units that are diagonal. (This should leave you with only the units that represent your final destination) 10.Multiply the top of the fractions…multiply the bottom of the fractions…divide the top by the bottom. (Go back to step 5)(Proceed to step 9)

Practice Conversions 1.How many seconds are in 6 minutes? 2.How many centimeters are in 27 inches? 3.If a truck weighs 15,356 pounds, how many tons is it? 4.If you had 10.5 gallons of milk, how many pints would you have? 5.Students go to school for 180 days. How many minutes is this equal to?

How many seconds are in 6 minutes? 6 minutes  seconds (6 minutes) 1 ( ) seconds minute 360 seconds 60 1 = 360 seconds 1 = Step 1 – Read the question and determine what information it provides you with (starting point & final destination) Step 2 – Write down your starting point and your final destination 1 minute = 60 seconds Step 3 – Determine how you will get from your starting point to your final destination (list any “connections” or conversion factors) Step 4 – Create a fraction by placing your starting point over one Step 5 – Multiply between fractions Step 6 – Write in the bottom unit of the new fraction (this is the same as the top unit of your previous fraction) Step 7 – Write the appropriate conversion factor into the fraction. Your bottom unit will guide you. Step 8 – Determine if this top unit is the desired unit (your final destination). In this case the answer is YES, so we move on to step 9 Step 9 – Cancel all diagonal units. Once this is done, your final destination should be the only unit left – in this case seconds Step 10 – Multiply the top of the fractions; multiply the bottom of the fractions; divide the product of the top by the product of the bottom Starting Point Final Destination

How many centimeters are in 27 inches? 27 inches  centimeters (27 inches) 1 ( ) cm inch centimeters = cm 1 = Step 1 – Read the question and determine what information it provides you with (starting point & final destination) Step 2 – Write down your starting point and your final destination 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters Step 3 – Determine how you will get from your starting point to your final destination (list any “connections” or conversion factors) Step 4 – Create a fraction by placing your starting point over one Step 5 – Multiply between fractions Step 6 – Write in the bottom unit of the new fraction (this is the same as the top unit of your previous fraction) Step 7 – Write the appropriate conversion factor into the fraction. Your bottom unit will guide you. Step 8 – Determine if this top unit is the desired unit (your final destination). In this case the answer is YES, so we move on to step 9 Step 9 – Cancel all diagonal units. Once this is done, your final destination should be the only unit left – in this case centimeters Step 10 – Multiply the top of the fractions; multiply the bottom of the fractions; divide the product of the top by the product of the bottom Starting Point Final Destination

If a truck weighs 15,356 pounds, how many tons is it? 15,356 pounds  tons (15,356 lbs.) 1 ( ) ton lbs tons = 15,356 ton 2000 = Step 1 – Read the question and determine what information it provides you with (starting point & final destination) Step 2 – Write down your starting point and your final destination 2000 pounds = 1 ton Step 3 – Determine how you will get from your starting point to your final destination (list any “connections” or conversion factors) Step 4 – Create a fraction by placing your starting point over one Step 5 – Multiply between fractions Step 6 – Write in the bottom unit of the new fraction (this is the same as the top unit of your previous fraction) Step 7 – Write the appropriate conversion factor into the fraction. Your bottom unit will guide you. Step 8 – Determine if this top unit is the desired unit (your final destination). In this case the answer is YES, so we move on to step 9 Step 9 – Cancel all diagonal units. Once this is done, your final destination should be the only unit left – in this case tons Step 10 – Multiply the top of the fractions; multiply the bottom of the fractions; divide the product of the top by the product of the bottom Starting Point Final Destination

If you had 10.5 gallons of milk, how many pints would you have? 10.5 gallons  pints (10.5 gallons) 1 ( ) quarts gallon 84 pints 4 1 = (10.5)(4)(2 pints) (1)(1)(1) = Step 1 – Read the question and determine what information it provides you with (starting point & final destination) Step 2 – Write down your starting point and your final destination 1 gallon = 4 quarts 1 quart = 2 pints Step 3 – Determine how you will get from your starting point to your final destination (list any “connections” or conversion factors) Step 4 – Create a fraction by placing your starting point over one Step 5 – Multiply between fractions Step 6 – Write in the bottom unit of the new fraction (this is the same as the top unit of your previous fraction) Step 7 – Write the appropriate conversion factor into the fraction. Your bottom unit will guide you. Step 8 – Determine if this top unit is the desired unit (your final destination). In this case the answer is NO, so we move back to step 5 Step 9 – Cancel all diagonal units. Once this is done, your final destination should be the only unit left – in this case pints Step 10 – Multiply the top of the fractions; multiply the bottom of the fractions; divide the product of the top by the product of the bottom Starting PointFinal Destination ( ) pints quart 2 1 Step 5 – Multiply between fractions Step 6 – Write in the bottom unit of the new fraction (this is the same as the top unit of your previous fraction) Step 7 – Write the appropriate conversion factor into the fraction. Your bottom unit will guide you. Step 8 – Determine if this top unit is the desired unit (your final destination). In this case the answer is YES, so we move on to step 9

Students go to school for 180 days. How many minutes is this equal to? 180 days  minutes (180 days) 1 ( ) hours day 259,200 minutes 24 1 = (180)(24)(60 minutes) (1)(1)(1) = Step 1 – Read the question and determine what information it provides you with (starting point & final destination) Step 2 – Write down your starting point and your final destination 1 day = 24 hours 1 hour = 60 minutes Step 3 – Determine how you will get from your starting point to your final destination (list any “connections” or conversion factors) Step 4 – Create a fraction by placing your starting point over one Step 5 – Multiply between fractions Step 6 – Write in the bottom unit of the new fraction (this is the same as the top unit of your previous fraction) Step 7 – Write the appropriate conversion factor into the fraction. Your bottom unit will guide you. Step 8 – Determine if this top unit is the desired unit (your final destination). In this case the answer is NO, so we move back to step 5 Step 9 – Cancel all diagonal units. Once this is done, your final destination should be the only unit left – in this case minutes Step 10 – Multiply the top of the fractions; multiply the bottom of the fractions; divide the product of the top by the product of the bottom Starting PointFinal Destination ( ) minutes hour 60 1 Step 5 – Multiply between fractions Step 6 – Write in the bottom unit of the new fraction (this is the same as the top unit of your previous fraction) Step 7 – Write the appropriate conversion factor into the fraction. Your bottom unit will guide you. Step 8 – Determine if this top unit is the desired unit (your final destination). In this case the answer is YES, so we move on to step 9