Name

Period

Date

Content Objective: You will demonstrate the ability to make

complex conversions by including units in
calculations.
Language Objective: You will communicate opinions concerning
lesson content to the class using Academic
English.

Anticipation Guide
Anyone who's traveled outside the U.S. is familiar with the
concept that different units of measure are used in different
countries. This includes measures of currency, volume, distance,
and mass.
With your research team, complete as many questions as you are
able in 6 min.
Remember to use S.N for your answers!
Table 1: Conversion Factors
1 carat (ct) =2.000 x 10-1 gram (g)
1 ounce (oz) = 1.822 x 101 pennyweight (dwt)
1 pound (lb) = 7.000 x 103 grains (gr)
1 stone <UK> (st<uk>) = 4.900 x 103 scruple (s.ap)
1 grain (gr) = 3.240 x 10-1 carat (ct)
1 pennyweight (dwt) = 1.555 x 100 gram (g)
1 scruple (s.ap) = 2.857 x 10-4 pound (lbs)
1) A 1 dwt diamond, is how many ct?
2) How many grams does an 11 st<uk> student weigh?
Bonus, how many kg?
3) At $0.04 per pennyweight, how much is 1.5 lbs of Starbucks
coffee?

Page 1 of 11

Calculation Page

Review
Page 2 of 11

Scientific Notation is a shorthand method for expressing very

large or very small numbers.
A number expressed in Scientific Notation (S. N.) consists of two
parts. First is just the digits with the decimal point placed after the
first digit.
Express the following values in scientific notation.
1

0.0201455681

457954583131

0.1000096456321
1

9999512589

99994912558569
4

Key Vocabulary Review

Consists

Convention

Exponential

Express

Observed

Operation

Conversions
A key aspect common to all sciences is the use of measurements
to record observed phenomena. All measurements consist of a
number and a unit. Many times, units may be expressed as a

Page 3 of 11

ratio of units such as MPG, which is short for Miles per gallon or
Mi./Gal.
If measurements are made in dissimilar units, they must be
converted to similar units to perform mathematical operations.
When making multiple conversions, as seen in the Anticipation
Guide, it becomes very easy to make errors during the
conversion. It is best to develop the discipline of carrying the units
along with the value when converting one unit to another. It
should be noted that any mathematical operations conducted on
the units are treated the same as the values.

Example 1: Area = 2 ft x 3 ft = (2x3) (___

x ___)=
Example 2:

Speed =

Example 3:

10 ct x

In this case ct

mi mi
= =mph()
h hr

2.000 x 101 g
=2 g
1 ct

out leaving the desired unit:

The more complex the operation, the more critical it becomes to

include the units during the conversion.
Based on your experience with the Anticipation Guide and the last
few slides discuss with your research group, What would be the

Page 4 of 11

consequence of not including units as part of conversion

calculation?
(3 minutes)
Come to consensus with your group and choose one person to
present your groups opinion. When called upon, use the sentence
fragment:
Our group concludes that failure to include units when
making conversion calculations would result in _______"

Problem 3 from the Anticipation Guide:

At $0.04 per pennyweight, how much is 1.5 lbs of Starbucks
coffee?

Page 5 of 11

Conversion Organizer
Begin Here
Starting
Value

Conversion
Value

Units

Canceling
Units

Ending
Value

Ending
Units

Ending
Value

Ending
Units

Canceling
Units

Continue Here
Continuing
Value

Conversion
Value

Units

x
Canceling
Units

Page 6 of 11

Canceling
Units

This demonstrates the power of using this process as a value of

weight was converted to a dissimilar unit, in this case, money.
Making the following conversions using the information found in
the question and the conversion factors in Table 1
Extra-large eggs weigh about 27 oz per dozen. A very old cake
recipe calls for 148 s.ap of eggs. How many eggs should be
used?
s . ap x

lbs
gr ct g dtw oz eggs
x
x x x
x
x
=eggs
s . ap lbs gr ct
g dtw
oz

This can be shortened if the number of oz/lb is known.it's

acceptable as long as the work is shown.
(Use the organizer on the next page)

Page 7 of 11

Begin Here
Starting
Value

Conversion
Value

Units

Canceling
Units

Ending
Value

Ending
Units

Ending
Value

Ending
Units

Ending
Value

Ending
Units

Canceling
Units
Continue Here
Continuing
Value

Conversion
Value

Units

x
Continuing
Value

Page 8 of 11

x
Conversion
Value

Units

Canceling
Units

Canceling
Units

0.68 ct Emeralds cost $173.40 on the wholesale market. How many lbs of emeralds are
required to buy an $11899 used BMW?
Begin Here
Starting
Value

Conversion
Value

Units

Canceling
Units

Ending
Value

Ending
Units

Ending
Value

Ending
Units

Canceling
Units
Continue Here
Continuing
Value

Conversion
Value

Units

Canceling
Units

Parting Thought
Groups of items may also be expressed as decimals. 6 eggs may be expressed as a half a
dozen or 0.5 dozen. In question 2, how many dozen eggs are required for the recipe?
(Please use scientific notation.)

Page 9 of 11

Wrap Up: Vocabulary

Provide an informal definition for each of these terms:

Convert

Dissimilar

Phenomeno
n

Ratio

Units

Wrap Up: Viewpoint

Page 10 of 11

Discuss with your group the most difficult concept from this
lesson for 3 minutes. Agree with your group on the most difficult
concept and choose one person to present your groups opinion.
When called upon, use the sentence fragment.

"In our opinion, the most daunting concept

was determined to be_______"

Wrap Up: Reflection

Spend 5 minutes writing in your learning journal. Describe the
most interesting aspect of this lesson and how this concept
might be put to use in your personal life.

Page 11 of 11