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Customary Systems and Customary Units

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Last updated date: 27th Mar 2024
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What are Customary Systems?

Customary systems are the systems for weights and measures that are used in the United States and other countries. We find the usage of customary systems for measuring length, weight, capacity and temperature. These customary systems measure everything in terms of units. Like we measure length and distances in the customary system in inches, feet, yards and miles.


For example, a system based on the yard is a unit of length, the pound is the unit of weight, the gallon is the unit of liquid volume, and the bushel is the unit of dry volume.


Here, on this page, we will cover more about the customary system and the units in detail.


Key concepts of US-Based Customary Units


Key Concepts of US-Based Customary Units


Table for Customary Equivalent of Length and Distances

Customary Unit

Customary Equivalent

Standard Metric Equivalent

1 inch

-

2.54 cm

1 foot

12 inches

0.3048 meters

1 yard

3 feet

0.9144 meters

1 mile

1760 yards

1.609 344 kilometers


Table for the US Customary Weight Units

Customary Unit

Customary Equivalent

Standard Metric Equivalent

1 ounce

16 drams

28.349523125 gms

1 pound

16 ounces

453.59237 gms

1 ton

2000 pounds

907.18474 kgs


Table for the U.S Customary Capacity or Volume Measurement Units

Customary Unit

Customary Equivalent

Standard Metric Equivalent

1 fluid ounce

2 tablespoons

29.5735295625 milliliters

1 cup

8 fluid ounces

0236.5882365 milliliters

1 pint

2 cups

473.176473 milliliters

1 quart

2 pins

0.946352946 liters

1 gallon

4 quarts

3.785411784 liters


Customary Units for Temperature Measurement

The U.S. customary unit for temperature measurement is °Fahrenheit. So, the °F value is given as;

1 °C = 33.8 °F


MCQs on Customary Systems and Units

1. 8 yards is equal to how many feet?

  1. 23

  2. 21

  3. 24

  4. 26

Answer: option c

We know that 1 yard = 3 feet, so 8 feet = 3 times of yards value, i.e., 8 x 3 = 24.

Therefore, 8 yards is equal to 24 feet is the answer.


2. How many ounces make 12 pounds?

  1. 80

  2. 56

  3. 64

  4. 192

Answer: option d

We know that 1 pound is equal to 16 ounces. Here, we have to find ‘?’ ounces to make 12 pounds. Let us solve this problem:

1 pound = 16 ounces

? = 12 pounds

16 12

16 (10 + 2)

(16 10) + (16 2)

160 + 32

=192

So, 192 ounces make 12 pounds, which is our required answer among the four options.


3. 2 gallons equal how many pints?

  1. 16 pints

  2. 18 pints

  3. 19 pints

  4. 20 pints

Answer: option c

1 gallon is equal to 9.6076 U.S. liquid pint. So, 2 gallons = 12 times the 9.6076 U.S. liquid pint. So, we have

2 9.6076

=(2 9.0000) + (2 0.6076)

= 18.0000 + 1.2152

= 19.2152 approx. equal to 19 pints

So, our answer is option C i.e., 19 pints.


4. Convert 5°C into Fahrenheits.

  1. 338 °F

  2. 3.38 °F

  3. 190 °F

  4. 0.338 °F

Answer: option c

We know that 1°C = 38 °F, so 5°C becomes 5 times the value of 38°F, so here we have:

5 38

= 5 (30 + 8)

=(5 30) + (5 8)

=150 + 40

= 190

So, the desired answer of the °F equivalent for 5°C is 190°F.


This was all about customary systems and their equivalent units for lengths and distances, volume, and temperature. Going through the MCQs solved above will help you give a clear understanding of this concept.

FAQs on Customary Systems and Customary Units

1. How many units does the customary system have?

For measuring length and distances, the U.S. customary system holds the units of the inch, foot, yard, and mile, where these four are the length measurements in everyday use. 


Since 1 July 1959, these customary units have been defined on the basis of 1 yard = 0.9144 meters excluding some surveying applications.

2. What do you conclude about the customary systems of measurement?

Customary systems state that when we go from a larger unit of measure to a smaller unit of measure we just need to multiply the given number by the conversion factor.