15: Converting Measures Animation Video
Transcript:
Technique: Converting Measures
Suppose your recipe calls for 9 teaspoons of baking powder, but all you have is a tablespoon measure. How could you measure the correct amount of baking powder? The answer is: use the bridge method to convert from one unit of measure to another. In this example, use the bridge method to convert from teaspoons to tablespoons.
First, place the number you want to convert over one. If the number is a fraction, convert it to a decimal and then place it over one. In this example, place 9 teaspoons over 1.
For the next step, you will use a conversion factor. The conversion factor is created by placing the unit you are converting to (in this case, tablespoons) over the equivalent number of units you are converting from (in this case, teaspoons). The equivalent of 1 tablespoon is 3 teaspoons. To create the conversion factor, place 1 tablespoon over 3 teaspoons. The unit you are converting to should always be on top (the numerator) in the conversion factor.
Now multiply the measure you want to convert, 9 teaspoons, by the conversion factor.
The teaspoon units cancel each other out, and then you multiply straight across to get 9 tablespoons over 3.
Reduce this fraction by dividing the bottom number (denominator) into the top number (numerator) to arrive at your final answer of 3 tablespoons.