Basic Mathematics for College Students

We can convert between American and metric units of capacity using the rounded
approximations in the following table.

5.5 Converting between American and Metric Units 473

Self Check 5

DRINKING WATER A student

bought a 360-mL bottle of water.

Convert this measure to quarts.

Round to the nearest tenth.

Now TryProblem 29

Equivalent Capacities

American to metric Metric to American

1 fl oz 29.57 mL 1 L 33.81 fl oz

1 pt 0.47 L 1 L 2.11 pt

1 qt 0.95 L 1 L 1.06 qt

1 gal 3.79 L 1 L 0.264 gal 1 liter 1 quart

EXAMPLE (^5) Cleaning Supplies A bottle of window cleaner contains
750 milliliters of solution. Convert this measure to quarts. Round to the nearest
tenth.
StrategyWe will use a two-part multiplication process that converts 750
milliliters to liters, and then converts that result to quarts.
WHYWe must use a two-part process because the conversion table at the top of
this page does not contain a single unit conversion factor that converts from
milliliters to quarts.
Solution
Since there is 1 liter for every 1,000 mL, we can convert 750 milliliters to liters by
multiplying by the unit conversion factor 1,000^1 L (^) mL. Since there are approximately
“Over the past decade, the number of U.S. students studying abroad has more than
doubled.”
From The Open Doors 2008 Report
In 2006/2007, a record number of 241,791 college students received credit for
study abroad. Since students traveling to other countries are almost certain to
come into contact with the metric system of measurement, they need to have a
basic understanding of metric units.
Suppose a student studying overseas needs to purchase the following school
supplies. For each item in red, choose the appropriate metric units.

1. in.11 in. notebook paper:
   216 meters 279 meters 216 centimeters 279 centimeters
   216 millimeters 279 millimeters
   2.A backpack that can hold 20 pounds of books:
   9 kilograms 9 grams 9 milligrams


2. fluid ounce bottle of Liquid Paper correction fluid:
   22.5 hectoliters 2.5 liters 22.2 milliliters

3

4

(^8 12)

THINK IT THROUGH Studying in Other Countries