If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

Main content

Course: US Math sandbox > Unit 6

Lesson 3: Lindsay's sandbox
Math
US Math sandbox
Former content creators
Lindsay's sandbox
© 2024 Khan AcademyTerms of usePrivacy PolicyCookie Notice

Convert units guided word problems (US customary)

Google Classroom
Solve word problems that involve converting between US customary measures of distance, volume, and mass.

Converting units step by step

Many word problems about converting units involve more than one step.

Example multi-step word problem

A zookeeper is weighing out fish for the penguins. One tub of fish weighs 168 ounces. The tub represents two-thirds of the total amount of food the penguins will be fed.
How many pounds of fish will the penguins be fed all together?
1 pound =16 ounces
There are 2 important parts for solving this problem:
  • We need to find the total weight of the fish.
  • We need to convert ounces to pounds.
Let's start by picturing the amount of fish in one tub compared to the total amount of fish the penguins will be fed.
How many rectangles should be shaded in this diagram to represent the amount of fish in one tub compared to the amount of fish all together?
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
  • a mixed number, like 1 3/4
  • an exact decimal, like 0.75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12 pi or 2/3 pi
rectangle(s)

What is the weight of the fish represented by one of the shaded boxes?
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
  • a mixed number, like 1 3/4
  • an exact decimal, like 0.75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12 pi or 2/3 pi
ounces

Now let's find the total weight of all the fish the penguins will be fed.
Which expressions can be used to find the total amount of fish the penguins will be fed?
Choose all answers that apply:

How many total ounces of fish will the penguins be fed?
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
  • a mixed number, like 1 3/4
  • an exact decimal, like 0.75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12 pi or 2/3 pi
ounces

Now let's work on converting 252 ounces into pounds.
Let's use the conversion factor given in the problem:
1 pound =16 ounces
Which expression can be used to convert the total ounces into pounds?
Choose 1 answer:

Finally, we can answer the original question:
How many pounds of fish will with penguins be fed all together?
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
  • a mixed number, like 1 3/4
  • an exact decimal, like 0.75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12 pi or 2/3 pi
pounds

Want to join the conversation?

Log in
  • blobby green style avatar for user Gsis4k
    Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Gsis4k's post “I'm so bad at US customar...”
    I'm so bad at US customary units. :(
    (6 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • old spice man green style avatar for user NathanSprague
    Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to NathanSprague's post “i make mistakes nearly ev...”
    i make mistakes nearly every question LOL
    (6 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • duskpin ultimate style avatar for user CJantz04
    Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to CJantz04's post “how many kilograms are in...”
    how many kilograms are in a kilogram
    (3 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • piceratops ultimate style avatar for user nehemiah
    Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to nehemiah's post “What is the meaning of do...”
    What is the meaning of doing khan academy
    (2 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • mr pants teal style avatar for user cdsmith
    Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to cdsmith's post “please upvote me to top t...”
    please upvote me to top thank you! ;)😉
    (2 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • aqualine ultimate style avatar for user Mr. Bobby
    Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Mr. Bobby's post “I think there is a gramma...”
    I think there is a grammatical error towards the bottom of the page where it reads...

    "How many pounds of fish will with penguins be fed all together?"

    Shouldn't it be something like: How many pounds of fish will the penguins be fed with all together?
    (2 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • leafers seedling style avatar for user chapman lien
    Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to chapman lien's post “Lol just started using Kh...”
    Lol just started using Khan Academy... I am Canadian and I am so confused about the US stuff like pints, ounces etc..

    Can someone explain to me?
    (1 vote)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • hopper happy style avatar for user maksimgriz
    Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to maksimgriz's post “Converting units step by ...”
    Converting units step by step
    Many word problems about converting units involve more than one step.
    Example multi-step word problem
    A zookeeper is weighing out fish for the penguins. One tub of fish weighs 168 ounces. The tub represents two-thirds of the total amount of food the penguins will be fed.
    How many \greenD{\text{pounds}}poundsstart color greenD, p, o, u, n, d, s, end color greenD of fish will the penguins be fed \purpleD{\text{all together}}all togetherstart color purpleD, a, l, l, space, t, o, g, e, t, h, e, r, end color purpleD?
    111 pound = 16=16equals, 16 ounces
    There are 222 important parts for solving this problem:
    We need to find the \purpleD{\text{total weight}}total weightstart color purpleD, t, o, t, a, l, space, w, e, i, g, h, t, end color purpleD of the fish.
    We need to \greenD{\text{convert ounces to pounds}}convert ounces to poundsstart color greenD, c, o, n, v, e, r, t, space, o, u, n, c, e, s, space, t, o, space, p, o, u, n, d, s, end color greenD.
    Let's start by picturing the amount of fish in one tub compared to the total amount of fish the penguins will be fed.
    How many rectangles should be shaded in this diagram to represent the amount of fish in one tub compared to the amount of fish all together?

    rectangle(s)
    Explain
    What is the weight of the fish represented by one of the shaded boxes?
    ounces
    Explain
    Now let's find the total weight of all the fish the penguins will be fed.
    Which expressions can be used to find the total amount of fish the penguins will be fed?
    Choose all answers that apply:
    Choose all answers that apply:

    (Choice A)
    A
    84 \times 384×384, times, 3

    (Choice B)
    B
    84 \div 384÷384, divided by, 3

    (Choice C)
    C
    84 \times 284×284, times, 2

    (Choice D)
    D
    84 + 84 + 8484+84+8484, plus, 84, plus, 84
    Hide explanation
    To find the total amount of food the penguins will be fed, we can multiply the amount of weight represented by one rectangle by 333:
    84 \times 384×384, times, 3
    Or we can add the weight represented by 111 rectangle together 333 times:
    84 + 84 + 8484+84+8484, plus, 84, plus, 84
    How many total ounces of fish will the penguins be fed?
    252
    ounces
    Explain
    Now let's work on converting 252252252 ounces into pounds.
    Let's use the conversion factor given in the problem:
    111 pound = 16=16equals, 16 ounces
    Which expression can be used to convert the total ounces into pounds?
    Choose 1 answer:
    Choose 1 answer:

    (Choice A)
    A
    252 \times 16252×16252, times, 16

    (Choice B)
    B
    252 \div 16252÷16252, divided by, 16

    (Choice C)
    C
    16\div 25216÷25216, divided by, 252

    (Choice D)
    D
    252 - 16252−16252, minus, 16
    Explain
    Finally, we can answer the original question:
    How many pounds of fish will with penguins be fed all together?
    pounds
    Explain
    Tags
    Units of fluid volume (U.S. customary)Units of distance (U.S. customary)Units of weight (U.S. customary)
    (1 vote)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • blobby green style avatar for user ngokhathu2006
    Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to ngokhathu2006's post “Some times people is not ...”
    Some times people is not perfect, but their ideas can
    (1 vote)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • blobby green style avatar for user kingan
    Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to kingan's post “It’s hard I can’t do it w...”
    It’s hard I can’t do it with all of this noise
    (1 vote)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user