Navigating the Measurement Maze in the USA
So, you’re planning a trip to the United States, and here’s what you might encounter. Picture this: the thermometer displays a balmy 75°F, you grab a couple of pounds of veggies and 2 gallons of OJ at the store, the GPS chirps about a right turn in 500 feet, and the city’s speed limit is a modest 25 mph. Feeling confused? Let’s demystify it. The USA measurement system has its English roots in the good ol’ imperial system. Feet, gallons, miles – all imported from across the pond.
While much of the world embraced the metric system, even the UK, the US held its ground. Attempts to convert were thwarted by hefty costs and a dash of American conservatism.
Adapting to most measures is a breeze, yet some require a bit of memorization or a trusty calculator. To make things easier, here’s a handy cheat sheet:
Money: The $ sign precedes the number, whereas the cent sign follows: $500, 25c.
Additionally, coins go by distinct names:
- Penny – 1c
- Nickel – 5c
- Dime – 10c
- Quarter – 25c
Length:
- 1 mile = 1.6 km
- 1 foot = 0.304 meters
- 1 inch = 2.54 cm
Area: Apartment sizes are often given in square feet. For example:
- 1 ft² = 0.09 m²
- 100 ft² = 9 m²
- 1 acre = 0.405 hectares
Weight:
1 pound (lb) = 454 grams
1 ounce (oz) = 28.3 grams
Liquid:
- 1 gallon (gal) = 3.78 liters
- 1 pint (pt) = 0.47 liters
- 1 fluid ounce (fl oz) = 29.5 ml
Notably, gallons are the go-to for water, juices, and milk due to their cost-effectiveness.
Temperature: To convert Fahrenheit ( °F) to Celsius ( °C), use the formula: ( °F – 32) x 5/9 = °C. Conversely, to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit: (9/5 x °C) + 32 = °F.
For quick reference, memorize these benchmarks:
32°C = 90°F
21°C = 70°F
10°C = 50°F
0°C = 32°F
-10°C = 14°F
-20°C = -4°F
-30°C = -22°F
-40°C = -40°F
Dates:
Unlike many other countries, Americans write dates with the month first, followed by the day and then the year. Furthermore, for single-digit days, omit the leading zero. For instance, 4/11/2019 translates to April 11, 2019.
Author: Iryna Horbacheva
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