GEAR UP FOR LIFE

MATH MENTOR: Converting Liquid Volumes
 

As you learned in Measuring Liquid Volume in the English System, we deal with gallons, quarts, pints, cups, and ounces. In smaller amounts, we talk about tablespoons and teaspoons.

Click on your Math Mentor icon if you want to learn more about liquid volume in the English System.

In the Metric System, we learned that people use liters and parts of liters like centiliters, milliliters.

Click on your Math Mentor icon if you want to learn more  about metric liquid volume.

Below, you can see how different measurements work in both systems. After all, if you order something from another country, you need to be sure you get the right amount of your item!

Liquid Measures
ENGLISH SYSTEM

METRIC SYSTEM
 1 cup 8 fluid ounces 1/2 pint  16 tablespoons 237 ml
 2 cups 16 fluid ounces 1 pint   473 ml
 4 cups 32 fluid ounces 1 quart   946 ml
 2 pints 32 fluid ounces 1 quart   0.946 liters
 4 quarts 128 fluid ounces  1 gallon    3.785 liters
1 teaspoon 1/6 fluid ounce 5 grams   about 5 ml
1 tablespoon 1/2 fluid ounce 15 grams 3 teaspoons 15 ml
2 tablespoons 1 fluid ounce 30 grams 1/8 cup 29.6 ml
8 tablespoons 4 fluid ounces 1/4 pint 1/2 cup 118.5 ml

Fill in the missing expressions.

EXAMPLE:  
8 fl oz 1 cup

 

1 cup fl oz pt ml
2 gal cups qt ltr
24 fl oz qt pt ltr
3 qt gal fl oz ltr

Problem Example

You are traveling in the interior of Mexico. The friends you are meeting told you that there were no gas stations between your town and theirs. You fill up your tank. In addition, you decide to buy a reserve full tank of gas for your trip. You know that your compact car holds 11 gallons of gas. How many liters will you have to buy for a reserve full tank? (Round off decimals)

1 tank = 11 gallons

1 gallon = 3.7 liters

11 X 3.7 liters = 40.7 or 41 liters should just about fill the tank. Let's hope that gas prices are cheaper in Mexico when you are there.

You use 3/4 of a tank of gas on your trip. Fortunately, you did not need to use your reserve container. How many liters do you still have for your return trip?
Click on your Math Mentor icon if you want to learn more  about fractions.

To find 3/4 of 11 liters... 3/4 X 11

If you used up 8.5 liters of gas, you have 2.5 liters left in the tank. (11 - 8.5 = 2.5)

You still had 11 liters in your reserve tank, so you must add that amount to what you have left in your tank to get a total amount.

8.5 liters + 11 liters = 19.5 liters

Problem solving tip: Always underline on mark the question being asked AND always jot down the information you do have. Then you can start solving the problem.

Below is the table you used above. If you want to try, use your memory to fill in the missing pieces. You always have the parts filled in above to keep checking until you learn. Use your calculator or your multiplication skills to test the answers.

Liquid Measures
ENGLISH SYSTEM

METRIC SYSTEM
 1 cup 8 fluid ounces 1/2 pint  16 tablespoons ml
 cups 16 fluid ounces pint   473 ml
 4 cups 32 fluid ounces 1 quart   ml
 2 pints fluid ounces 1 quart   0.946 liters
quarts 128 fluid ounces  1 gallon    3.785 liters
1 teaspoon 1/6 fluid ounce grams   about 5 ml
1 tablespoon 1/2 fluid ounce 15 grams 3 teaspoons ml
tablespoons 1 fluid ounce 30 grams 1/8 cup 29.6 ml
8 tablespoons 4 fluid ounces 1/4 pint 1/2 cup ml