Foreign Mass and Temperature Conversions

Math 10-3Chapter 3 Measurement

When you travel to other countries, the measurement systems they use there may be different from what we use in Canada.

For example, what is a gallon? A bushel? A ton? A Fahrenheit?

Measuring Mass in the USA/UK….

A “bushel” is typically used to describe the mass of grains. A bushel is equal to approximately 60 lbs.

Give an example of something with a mass of 60 lbs..

-Small Child - Large Dog

Measuring Mass in the USA/UK….

A “ton” is typically used to describe the mass of large objects. One ton is equal to about 2000 lbs! A Volkswagen weighs about 1 ton, where a truck weighs about 4.5 tons (or 9000 lbs!).

What about a half-ton truck?

What do you think this means?

The truck does not weigh ½ ton, this describe the trucks pay-load capacity or how much the truck can carry.

How many pounds can a half-ton truck carry? ~1000 lbs!

Gas Prices

In the US, their gas prices are per gallon. Here in Canada, gas prices are expressed per litre.

An American Gallon is equal to about 4.56 Litres; 1 Canadian litre is about ¼ a gallon (or 0.22 L = 1 gallon).

We can use the estimation of ¼ to easily determine the price of gas while visiting the USA.

Ex1. You are driving through California and need to fill up. The gas price is $3.10 per gallon – you think this is ridiculous! In Alberta it is only $0.90 per litre. How much is the gasoline in California per litre?

We know that 1 L = ~1/4 a gallon. We can multiply the price per gallon by ¼ to get the correct answer.

Multiply the price per gallon by the fraction ¼

$3.10 x = = $3.10 4

=~$0.775/L

Looks like it is a better deal to fill up in California than Alberta!

1

4

3.10

4

Ex2. Your friend is visiting from Boston. They notice the price of gas in Edmonton is $0.90/L and they exclaim “Wow! That is WAY cheaper than the $2.50/gallon that I pay!” Are they correct?

We know that 1L = ~1/4 gallon. We have to change the price from $/L to $/gallon

Divide the price by ¼

*remember to divide by a fraction, you reciprocate (“flip”) the fraction and multiply!

$0.90 $0.90 x = $0.90 x4 1

= $3.60/gallon

1

4 4

1

Temperature

Sometimes when you are travelling, you may come across the temperature scale called Fahrenheit. In Canada we use the Celsius scale.

We know that a hot day is above 300C, a cool fall day is about 100C, Water boils at 1000C, Water freezes at 00C and a very cold day is -300C.

Converting Temperature…

To convert FROM Celsius TO Fahrenheit….

F =

To convert FROM Fahrenheit TO Celsius…

C =

932

5C

5( 32)9F

Ex1. The average body temperature of a person is 370C. What is this in Fahrenheit?

HAVE Celsius WANT Fahrenheit

How do we do this on our calculator?

9 x 37 5 + 32 will give us the correct answer = ~98.8 F

09(37 ) 325

C

Ex2. Your friend from Colorado says that 10 F is freezing cold! What temperature is 10 F in

Celsius?

HAVE Fahrenheit WANT Celsius

How do we do this on our calculator?

** First subtract 32 from 1010 – 32 = -22

Then multiply and divide -22 x 5 9 = ~-12.2 0C

5(10 32 )9

F