TEAS® Math Study Guide
Measurements
Conversions
Quantities (such as distance, mass, capacity, duration, and thermal conditions) are denoted by a numeric value and a unit. For instance, an individual’s mass might be indicated as 220 pounds (lb) or 100 kilograms (kg). A number without its corresponding unit lacks any practical significance. Test questions may require you to convert between different measurement systems or calculate conversions within the same measurement systems (e.g., between the metric system and the standard US system). For such conversions, one should know the correct conversion factor between different units.
Common units of length, weight, and volume in the Standard or U.S. Standard system are:
| Time | Weight | Length | Volume |
| 1 minute = 60 seconds | 1 pound = 16 ounces | 1 foot = 12 inches | 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces |
| 1 hour = 60 minutes | 1 ton = 2000 pounds (US) | 1 yard = 3 feet | 1 pint = 2 cups |
| 1 day = 24 hours | 1 mile = 5280 feet | 1 quart = 2 pints | |
| 1 week = 7 days | 1 gallon = 4 quarts | ||
| 1 year = 12 months |
The other commonly used system of measurement is the metric system. It is based on powers of 10:
- 10 mm = 1 cm
- 100 cm = 1 m
- 1000 m = 1 km
- 1000 mg = 1 g
- 1000 g = 1 kg
- 1000 mL = 1 L
The following are examples of converting within measurement systems:
1. Convert 4 feet into inches.
4 feet × 12 inches/foot = 48 inches
2. Convert 2.5 meters to centimeters.
2.5 m × 100 cm/m = 250 cm
Conversions Between the Standard and Metric Systems
The common conversion ratios used to convert between standard and metric systems are given below:
|
Temperature |
Length |
Weight |
Volume |
|
32° Fahrenheit = 0° Celsius |
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters |
1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds |
1 liter = 1.06 quarts |
| \(C = (F – 32) \times \dfrac{5}{9}\) |
1 meter = 39.37 inches |
1 ounce = 28 grams |
1 fluid ounce = 30 milliliters |
| \(F = (C \times \dfrac{9}{5}) + 32\) |
1 mile = 1.609 kilometers |
|
1 teaspoon = 5 milliliters |
|
|
1 meter = 1.094 yards |
|
1 gallon = 3.785 liters |
The following are examples of converting between measurement systems:
1. Convert 10 miles to kilometers.
\(10 \times 1.609 = 16.09 \ \text{km}\)
2. Convert 5 kilograms to pounds.
\(5 \times 2.2 = 11 \ \text{lbs}\)
Tip: The conversion factor will usually be provided in the question text itself.