Identification of Equivalent
Customary Units of Capacity
Jen Kershaw
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Printed: December 21, 2014
AUTHOR
Jen Kershaw
www.ck12.org
C HAPTER
Chapter 1. Identification of Equivalent Customary Units of Capacity
1
Identification of Equivalent
Customary Units of Capacity
Here you’ll identify equivalent customary units of capacity.
Have you ever wondered how much water you would need for a hike that lasted a few days?
After learning about snakes, Kevin began planning an imaginary hiking trip to the rainforest. He figured that sweating
was definitely going to happen given the temperatures and activity. Here is what he discovered in a book.
The average person needs 1 gallon of water to drink per day.
Kevin can’t believe this. He knows that 1 gallon is equal to 128 fluid ounces.
If Kevin went hiking for three days, how many fluid ounces of water is that? How many quarts of water?
This Concept is all about identifying equivalent customary units of capacity. Pay attention and you will know
how to answer these questions at the end of the Concept.
Guidance
We just finished learning about equivalence regarding customary units of weight. We can also find equivalent
measures for customary units of capacity. By capacity, we mean volume or the amount of liquid an item can hold.
Sometimes, we hear the word capacity with containers or with a milk jug that is one gallon. There are several
customary units of capacity.
What are the customary units of capacity? Here are the common units from the smallest to the largest.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Fluid ounces (fl. oz)
Cups
Pints
Quarts
Gallons
Sometimes, you will have to figure out how many cups are in a pint or how many quarts are in a gallon.
Often, these types of conversions are necessary when you are doing an activity involving liquids, like cooking.
To convert different units of capacity, you need to know how much of one unit is equal to another unit. Here
is a chart to show you equivalent customary units of capacity.
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To use the table, make sure you match up one of the red numbers with the units you are changing to. For
example, the basic relationship between cups and fluid ounces is 1 cup = 8 fl oz. Between quarts and pints, the
basic relationship is 1 qt = 2 pt. Between gallons and pints: 1 gal = 8 pt.
How many cups are in 36 fluid ounces?
First, figure out if you need to multiply or divide? Check units.
fluid ounces (small) to cups (large) = DIVIDE
Next, Divide by what? Go to the table.
8 fl oz = 1 cup = DIVIDE BY 8
Finally, Calculate. 36 ÷ 8 = 4
Our answer is
4 12
1
2
cups
cups or 4.5 cups.
How many ounces are there in 4 quarts?
First, figure out if you need to multiply or divide. Check units.
quarts (large) to ounces (small) = multiply
Next, multiply by what? Go to the table. 32 fl. oz = 1 qt = Multiply by 32.
Finally, Calculate. 32 × 4 = 128 fluid ounces
Next, it is time for you to practice. Use the chart to find equivalent units.
Example A
5 quarts = ____ pts.
Solution: 10 pints
Example B
6.5 gallons = ____ quarts
Solution: 26 quarts
Example C
16 fl. ounces = ____ cups
Solution: 2 cups
Now back to Kevin and the water. Here is the original problem once again.
After learning about snakes, Kevin began planning an imaginary hiking trip to the rainforest. He figured that sweating
was definitely going to happen given the temperatures and activity. Here is what he discovered in a book.
The average person needs 1 gallon of water to drink per day.
Kevin can’t believe this. He knows that 1 gallon is equal to 128 fluid ounces.
If Kevin went hiking for three days, how many fluid ounces of water is that? How many quarts of water?
To figure the fluid ounces, we can multiply the number of fluid ounces in one gallon by three days of hiking.
128 × 3 = 384fluid ounces
To figure out the number of quarts, we can multiply the number of quarts in one gallon by three.
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Chapter 1. Identification of Equivalent Customary Units of Capacity
4 quarts = 1 gallon
4 × 3 = 12
There are 12 quarts needed for three days of hiking.
Guided Practice
Here is one for you to try on your own.
Marcus has a 5 gallon jug of water. How many ounces is that?
Answer
To figure this out, we first have to look at the equivalent units between ounces and gallons.
There are 128 fluid ounces in 1 gallon.
Marcus has a 5 gallon jug.
We need to multiply 128 times 5.
The answer is 640 fluid ounces.
Video Review
MEDIA
Click image to the left or use the URL below.
URL: http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/embeddedobject/5403
James Sousa Converting Between Units of Weight in the Customary System
Explore More
Directions: Convert each customary unit of capacity to an equivalent form.
1. 3 cups = ____ fl. oz.
2. 32 fl. oz = ____ cups
3. 4 cups = ____ pints
4. 8 pints = ____ cups
5. 2 quarts = ____ pints
6. 8 gallons = ____ quarts
7. 24 quarts = ____ gallons
8. 2 quarts = ____ gallons
9. 1 gallon = ____ pints
10. 16 fl. oz = ____ pints
11. 2 gallons = ____ fl. oz.
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12. 10 gallons = ____ fl. oz.
13. 384 fl. oz = ____ gallons
14. 384 fl. oz = ____ pints
15. 384 fl. oz = ____ cups
4