A boy weighs 18 kilograms. How much does he weigh in pounds? Use the following conversion: 1 kilogram is 2.2 pounds.
The correct answer and explanation is :
To convert a boy’s weight from kilograms to pounds, we need to apply the conversion factor: 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds.
Step-by-step Conversion:
Given:
- The boy weighs 18 kilograms.
- The conversion factor is: 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds.
To convert the weight, we multiply the number of kilograms by the conversion factor:
[
\text{Weight in pounds} = \text{Weight in kilograms} \times \text{Conversion factor}
]
[
\text{Weight in pounds} = 18 \times 2.2
]
[
\text{Weight in pounds} = 39.6 \text{ pounds}
]
Therefore, the boy weighs 39.6 pounds.
Explanation:
The process of converting from one unit of measurement to another requires a conversion factor, which is essentially a multiplier that tells us how much one unit of a measurement is worth in terms of another unit. In this case, the conversion factor between kilograms and pounds is 2.2. This means that each kilogram is equivalent to 2.2 pounds.
Kilograms are a unit of weight used in the metric system, which is based on powers of 10. Pounds, on the other hand, are a unit of weight used primarily in the United States and other countries that do not use the metric system. The relationship between the two units allows for easy conversion through multiplication by the conversion factor (2.2 in this case).
To understand the significance of this, it’s important to note that kilograms are the standard unit of weight used worldwide, especially in scientific contexts, while pounds are more common in daily life in some countries like the United States. This conversion allows for consistent measurement across different systems of units, ensuring that weight can be communicated clearly no matter the system being used.
Thus, the boy’s weight of 18 kilograms is equivalent to 39.6 pounds. This conversion ensures that the boy’s weight is accurately represented in pounds, a unit that might be more familiar to those using the Imperial system.