Choosing US Customary Measurement Units

United States customary units are a system of measurements used in the United States. The United States customary system developed from English units that were in use before America got its independence.

• Americans use customary units in business, personal and social activities.

• In science, medicine, industry and government sectors, however, metric units are used.

• The International System of Units (SI), the latest form of the metric system, is recommended for use by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology.

• For measuring length, the U.S. customary system uses the inch, foot, yard, and mile, Measurement in inches is common for shorter objects or lengths.

• Typically, people use yards, miles, and sometimes feet to describe long distances.

• People use customary units like ounces, pounds, tons to measure weights.

• People use customary units like cups, pints, quarts and gallons and so on to measure capacity or volumes.

• You need to convert from one unit of measure to another if you are solving problems that include measurements involving more than one type of measurement.

• Each of the units can be converted to one of the other units using the table of equivalents, the conversion factors, and/or the factor label method shown in this topic.

• Which choice best represents the length of a toothpick?

Which customary unit best represents the length of a toothpick?

Solution

There several customary units of length like inches, feet, yards etc. The best customary unit that represents the length of a toothpick is inch.

Which customary unit best represents the capacity of a water tank?

Solution

There several customary units of capacity like cups, pints, quarts and gallons etc. The best customary unit that represents the capacity of a water tank is gallon.

Which customary unit best represents the weight of an elephant?

Solution

There several customary units of weight like ounces, pounds, tons etc. The best customary unit that represents the weight of an elephant is ton.