Measurement and conversion questions are vitally important in any healthcare program, especially in nursing. You will be required to understand how to process these conversions to provide safe and efficient patient care through medication administration or other tasks. Measurement and conversion questions ask applicants to covert units of measurements between the metric system and English system.
ENGLISH SYSTEM CONVERSIONS
The English system of measurement uses weight, volume, and length as units of measure.
Weight is measured in ounces, pounds, and tons
Volume is measured in ounces, cups, pints, quarts, and gallons
Length is measured in inches, feet, yards, and miles
To understand conversions in the English system, you must know the equivalent measures for each step in the given measurement system. Here are some examples of measurement equivalents.
Measurement Type
Equivalents
Weight
16 ounces
2,000 pounds
= 1 pound
= 1 ton
Volume
8 ounces
2 cups
2 pints
4 quarts
= 1 cup
= 1 pint
= 1 quart
= 1 gallon
Length
12 inches
3 feet
5,280 feet
= 1 foot
= 1 yard
= 1 mile
METRIC SYSTEM CONVERSIONS
The metric system of measurement use weight, volume, and length, but it uses a different set of units for measurement.
The basic unit of weight measurement is the gram
The basic unit of volume measurement is the liter
The basic unit of length measurement is the meter
In the metric system, each unit of measurement starts with a prefix that indicates whether the measurement is smaller than the basic unit or larger than the basic unit. Here are some examples of measurement equivalents.
Prefix
Measurement Compared to Basic Unit
Weight
Volume
Length
Kilo-
1,000 times
Kilogram (kg)
Kiloliter (kL)
Kilometer (km)
Hecto-
100 times
Hectogram (hg)
Hectoliter (hL)
Hectometer (hm)
Deka-
10 times
Dekagram (dag)
Dekaliter (daL)
Dekameter (dam)
Basic Unit
Basic Unit
Gram (g)
Liter (L)
Meter (m)
Deci-
1/10
Decigram (dg)
Deciliter (dL)
Decimeter (dm)
Centi-
1/100
Centigram (cg)
Centiliter (cL)
Centimeter (cm)
Milli-
1/1,000
Milligram (mg)
Milliliter (mL)
Millimeter (mm)
UNDERSTANDING CONVERSIONS BETWEEN SYSTEMS
To convert between measurements in either English and metric systems, you need to know the approximate equivalents between different units. Here are some examples of measurement equivalents.
English Measurement
Metric Equivalent
1 kilogram
Approximately 2.2 pounds
1 liter
Approximately 1 quart
2.5 centimeters
Approximately 1 inch
1 meter
Approximately 1 yard
TEMPERATURE CONVERSIONS
In the English system of measurement, temperature is measured on the Fahrenheit scale. In the metric system of measurement, temperature is measured on the Celsius scale. Here are some examples of measurement equivalents.
Celsius (Metric)
Fahrenheit (English)
Freezing Point
0
32
Body Temperature
37
98.6
Boiling Point
100
212
To obtain an approximation of Celsius Temperature from a Fahrenheit Measurement, subtract 30 and then divide the total by 2.
MEASUREMENT TOOLS ON THE ATI TEAS
Measurement tools are tested on the ATI TEAS using three categories, based on weight, volume, or length.
Measurement tools for weight
Scales are used traditionally and vary in degrees of accuracy
Measurement tools for volume
Pipettes are measuring tubes or drops to measure small amounts of liquid with high precision
Measuring cups, flasks, and beakers provide less precise measurements for larger amounts of liquid
Graduated cylinders vary in size and are less precise than pipettes but more precise than measuring cups, flasks, and beakers
Measurement tools for length
Calipers are the most precise measuring tool and take measurements using two points
Rulers are the next most precise tool, followed by yardsticks and metersticks
Tape measures are used for measuring long distances
Odometers measure the distance traveled by a vehicle and would be appropriate for the measurement taken in miles or kilometers
ATI TEAS Math Measurements and Conversions
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Question 1 of 8
1. Question
A powdered chemical must be measured to the nearest 1/4 of a pound.
Which of the following is the most appropriate measurement tool for this task?
Correct
A scale is the appropriate measuring tool for measuring weight. Graduated cylinders and beakers are used to measure volume, while yardsticks are used to measure length.
Incorrect
A scale is the appropriate measuring tool for measuring weight. Graduated cylinders and beakers are used to measure volume, while yardsticks are used to measure length.
Question 2 of 8
2. Question
Which of the following is an approximate metric quantity for the volume of a glass of water?
Correct
A glass of water is best approximated by a measurement of about half a liter, or 0.5 L. The measurements of 10 mL and 0.10 cL are equal and are both too small. The measurement of 1 kL too large.
Incorrect
A glass of water is best approximated by a measurement of about half a liter, or 0.5 L. The measurements of 10 mL and 0.10 cL are equal and are both too small. The measurement of 1 kL too large.
Question 3 of 8
3. Question
Which of the following metric units of measurement is most reasonable to measure the weight of a full tube of a cream medication?
Correct
A full tube of a cream medication would most likely by measured in grams. The unit of milligrams would be too small. Hectogram and kilograms units would be too large.
Incorrect
A full tube of a cream medication would most likely by measured in grams. The unit of milligrams would be too small. Hectogram and kilograms units would be too large.
Question 4 of 8
4. Question
A builder must measure a steel rod exactly 5 inches long for a building project. Which of the following measurement tools is appropriate for this task?
Correct
A ruler would be most suited for measuring a length in inches. A yardstick would be too large, so C is incorrect.
Incorrect
A ruler would be most suited for measuring a length in inches. A yardstick would be too large, so C is incorrect.
Question 5 of 8
5. Question
A technician must measure exactly 6 ounces of a liquid to add to a medical preparation. It is important for the measurement to be as precise as possible. Which of the following measurement tools is most appropriate for this task?
Correct
The volume of a liquid is best measured by a graduated cylinder or beaker, among the choices listed here. Graduated cylinders generally provide more precise measurements than beakers, so a graduated cylinder would be the most appropriate tool for this task.
Incorrect
The volume of a liquid is best measured by a graduated cylinder or beaker, among the choices listed here. Graduated cylinders generally provide more precise measurements than beakers, so a graduated cylinder would be the most appropriate tool for this task.
Question 6 of 8
6. Question
Which of the following is the number of pints in 3 gallons?
Correct
A gallon consists of 4 quarts, and there are 2 pints in each quart. Since 4 x 2 = 8, there are 8 pints in each gallon. Multiply 3 gallons by 8 pints: 3 x 8 = 24. There are 24 pints in 3 gallons.
Incorrect
A gallon consists of 4 quarts, and there are 2 pints in each quart. Since 4 x 2 = 8, there are 8 pints in each gallon. Multiply 3 gallons by 8 pints: 3 x 8 = 24. There are 24 pints in 3 gallons.
Question 7 of 8
7. Question
If a piece of wood measure 25.4 centimeters in length, which of the following is the wood’s approximate length in English measurement? (Note: 1 inch 2.52 centimeters)
Correct
Set up a proportion to determine the missing measurement. Cross multiply to solve:
1 inch / 2.54 centimeters = x inches / 25.4 centimeters
2.54 x x = 1 x 25.4
2.54x = 25.4
x = 25.4/2.54
x = 10
The wood measures approximately 10 inches.
Incorrect
Set up a proportion to determine the missing measurement. Cross multiply to solve:
1 inch / 2.54 centimeters = x inches / 25.4 centimeters
2.54 x x = 1 x 25.4
2.54x = 25.4
x = 25.4/2.54
x = 10
The wood measures approximately 10 inches.
Question 8 of 8
8. Question
Which of the following is the number of centimeters in 1.46 meters?
Correct
Convert the number of meters to centimeters. One meter equal 100 centimeters. Multiply 1.46 x 100 = 146.
Incorrect
Convert the number of meters to centimeters. One meter equal 100 centimeters. Multiply 1.46 x 100 = 146.
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