Unit Conversion Worksheet Name:

Basic College Mathematics: Measurement Section:

In today’s activity, we will use MS Excel to create a unit conversion calculator. In order to accomplish this, we will need to enter formulas into a MS Excel spreadsheet using the unit conversions below. We will need to use our knowledge of ratios and proportions to develop the appropriate formulas.

Units of Length
1 foot = 12 inches
1 yard = 3 feet
1 mile = 1760 yards
1 mile = 5280 feet / U.S. and Metric Length
1 inch ≈ 2.54 cm
1 foot ≈ 0.305 meter
1 yard ≈ 0.915 meter
1 meter ≈ 39.37 inches
1 km ≈ 0.625 miles
1 mile ≈ 1.6 km
Units of Weight
1 pound (lb.) = 16 ounces (oz.)
1 ton = 2000 pounds (lbs.) / U.S. and Metric Weight
1 ounce ≈ 28.35 grams
1 pound ≈ 454 grams
1 kg ≈ 2.2 pounds
Units of Volume
1 cup (c.) = 8 fluid ounces (fl. oz.)
1 pint = 2 cups
1 quart = 2 pints
1 gallon = 4 quarts / U.S. and Metric Volume
1 liter ≈ 1.057 quarts
1 liter ≈ 0.264 gallons
Units of Time
1 minute = 60 seconds
1 hour = 60 minutes
1 day = 24 hours / Units of Temperature
F = 9C + 32°
5
C = 5(F – 32°)
9

1. The first step will be the most time consuming, thought provoking and tedious. In the following table, you will need to find the conversion factor. The first are done for you so that you may see the pattern. You will need to reference the conversions from the previous page. Note: shift 8, *, means multiply and the forward slash (on the same key as the ?) means division.

Conversion / Formulas
English Units: Length / Let x = the cell reference, i.e. B23
Inches to Feet / = x / 12
Feet to Inches / = x * 12
Feet to Yards / = x / 3
Yards to Feet / = x * 3
Feet to Miles / = x / 5280
Miles to Feet / = x * 5280
Yards to Miles
Miles to Yards
English Units: Volume
Ounces to Cups
Cups to Ounces
Cups to Pints
Pints to Cups
Pints to Quarts
Quarts to Pints
Quarts to Gallons
Gallons to Quarts
English Units: Weight
Ounces to Pounds
Pounds to Ounces
Pounds to Tons
Tons to Pounds
Universal Units: Time
Seconds to Minutes
Minutes to Seconds
Minutes to Hours
Hours to Minutes
Hours to Days
Days to Hours
Days to Weeks
Weeks to Days
Days to Years
Year to Days
Months to Years
Years to Months
Temperature
F to C
C to F

Here is the general conversion for all three units of measure in the metric system: meters (m), grams (g), and liter (l). Please follow the pattern indicated by the two completed rows.

Metric System:
m, g, l / Kilo / Hecto / Deka / unit / Deci / Centi / Milli
Kilo to … / Kilo
Hecto to … / Hecto
Deka to … / Deka / =x/100 / =x/10 / =x / =x*10 / =x*100 / =x*1000 / =x*10000
unit to … / unit
Deci to … / Deci
Centi to … / Centi / =x/100000 / =x/10000 / =x/1000 / =x/100 / =x/10 / =x / =x*10
Milli to … / Milli

The rest are U.S. to Metric conversions:

U.S. and Metric: Length
Centimeters to Inches
Inches to Centimeters
Feet to Meters
Meters to Feet
Yards to Meters
Meters to Yards
Kilometers to Miles
Miles to Kilometers
U.S. and Metric: Weight
Ounces to Grams
Grams to Ounces
Pounds to Kilograms
Kilograms to Pounds
U.S. and Metric: Volume
Gallons to Liters
Liters to Gallons
Quarts to Liters
Liters to Quarts

2. Next, you will need to enter the formulas into the MS Excel Spreadsheet named “Unit_conversion_Calculator.xls” in the column labeled “output” (light blue). Here is an example of exactly what you need to type for the first three entries:

Note: all formulas must begin with an equal sign (=).

Input / Output
English Units: Length
Inches to Feet / Inches / =B8/12 / Feet
Feet to Inches / Feet / =B9*12 / Inches
Feet to Yards / Feet / =B10/3 / Yards

3. Finally, you are ready to test your calculator. Please make sure both columns match. If any of the formulas calculates an incorrect value, edit the formula by retyping the correct formula.

Test Values:

Input / Output
English Units: Length
Inches to Feet / 12 / Inches / 1 / Feet
Feet to Inches / 1 / Feet / 12 / Inches
Feet to Yards / 3 / Feet / 1 / Yards
Yards to Feet / 1 / Yards / 3 / Feet
Feet to Miles / 5280 / Feet / 1 / Miles
Miles to Feet / 1 / Miles / 5280 / Feet
Yards to Miles / 1760 / Yards / 1 / Miles
Miles to Yards / 1 / Miles / 1760 / Yards
English Units: Volume
Ounces to Cups / 8 / Ounces / 1 / Cups
Cups to Ounces / 1 / Cups / 8 / Ounces
Cups to Pints / 2 / Cups / 1 / Pints
Pints to Cups / 1 / Pints / 2 / Cups
Pints to Quarts / 2 / Pints / 1 / Quarts
Quarts to Pints / 1 / Quarts / 2 / Pints
Quarts to Gallons / 4 / Quarts / 1 / Gallons
Gallons to Quarts / 1 / Gallons / 4 / Quarts
English Units: Weight
Ounces to Pounds / 16 / Ounces / 1 / Pounds
Pounds to Ounces / 1 / Pounds / 16 / Ounces
Pounds to Tons / 2000 / Pounds / 1 / Tons
Tons to Pounds / 1 / Tons / 2000 / Pounds
Universal Units: Time
Seconds to Minutes / 60 / Seconds / 1 / Minutes
Minutes to Seconds / 1 / Minutes / 60 / Seconds
Minutes to Hours / 60 / Minutes / 1 / Hours
Hours to Minutes / 1 / Hours / 60 / Minutes
Hours to Days / 24 / Hours / 1 / Days
Days to Hours / 1 / Days / 24 / Hours
Days to Weeks / 7 / Days / 1 / Weeks
Weeks to Days / 1 / Weeks / 7 / Days
Days to Years / 365 / Days / 1 / Year
Year to Days / 1 / Years / 365 / Days
Months to Years / 12 / Months / 1 / Years
Years to Months / 1 / Years / 12 / Months
Temperature
F to C / 50 / F / 10 / C
C to F / 10 / C / 50 / F
Metric System: m, g, l / Kilo / Hecto / Deka / unit / Deci / Centi / Milli
Kilo to … / 1 / Kilo / 1 / 10 / 100 / 1000 / 10000 / 100000 / 1000000
Hecto to … / 1 / Hecto / 0.1 / 1 / 10 / 100 / 1000 / 10000 / 100000
Deka to … / 1 / Deka / 0.01 / 0.1 / 1 / 10 / 100 / 1000 / 10000
unit to … / 1 / unit / 0.001 / 0.01 / 0.1 / 1 / 10 / 100 / 1000
Deci to … / 1 / Deci / 0.0001 / 0.001 / 0.01 / 0.1 / 1 / 10 / 100
Centi to … / 1 / Centi / 0.00001 / 0.0001 / 0.001 / 0.01 / 0.1 / 1 / 10
Milli to … / 1 / Milli / 0.000001 / 0.00001 / 0.0001 / 0.001 / 0.01 / 0.1 / 1
U.S. and Metric: Length
Centimeters to Inches / 2.54 / cm / 1 / in
Inches to Centimeters / 1 / in / 2.54 / cm
Feet to Meters / 1 / ft / 0.305 / m
Meters to Feet / 0.305 / m / 1 / ft
Yards to Meters / 1 / yds / 0.915 / m
Meters to Yards / 0.915 / m / 1 / yds
Kilometers to Miles / 1 / km / 0.625 / miles
Miles to Kilometers / 0.625 / miles / 1 / km
U.S. and Metric: Weight
Ounces to Grams / 1 / ozs / 28.35 / g
Grams to Ounces / 28.35 / g / 1 / ozs
Pounds to Kilograms / 2.2 / lbs / 1 / kg
Kilograms to Pounds / 1 / kg / 2.2 / lbs
U.S. and Metric: Volume
Gallons to Liters / 0.264 / gal / 1 / l
Liters to Gallons / 1 / l / 0.264 / gal
Quarts to Liters / 1.057 / qts / 1 / l
Liters to Quarts / 1 / l / 1.057 / qts