If a person weighs 125 lbs, how many kilograms (kg) do they weigh?
The correct answer and explanation is:
To convert pounds to kilograms, you need to use the conversion factor where 1 pound is equal to 0.453592 kilograms.
So, for a person who weighs 125 lbs, the calculation is: 125 lbs×0.453592 kglb=56.699 kg125 \, \text{lbs} \times 0.453592 \, \frac{\text{kg}}{\text{lb}} = 56.699 \, \text{kg}
Thus, a person who weighs 125 lbs weighs approximately 56.7 kg.
This conversion is based on the standard relationship between pounds and kilograms. The pound (lb) is commonly used in the United States to measure weight, while the kilogram (kg) is the standard unit of mass in most other parts of the world, following the metric system. The conversion factor of 0.453592 kilograms per pound comes from the international agreement on measurement standards.
To clarify the reasoning: when you multiply the number of pounds by the conversion factor, you get the equivalent weight in kilograms. The result is always rounded to a reasonable number of decimal places, depending on the required level of precision. In most cases, you might round to one or two decimal places, such as 56.7 kg, especially if you are dealing with general measurements or daily applications.
The metric system is more widely used globally due to its simplicity, and it is the preferred system in scientific contexts. This conversion method applies not only to human body weight but also to any measurement that needs to be converted from pounds to kilograms, making it a fundamental skill in both everyday life and in fields such as science, medicine, and engineering.