When you mention how heavy or light an object is, you are referring to its weight. Weight is measured in the U.S. customary system using three units: ounces, pounds, and tons.
Unit Equivalents
Conversion Factors (heavier to lighter units of measurement)
Conversion Factors (lighter to heavier units of measurement)
Just like when converting between units of length, you can use the factor label method to convert weight from one unit of measure to another using the conversion factors. Remember, that by using the factor label method you can cancel the units out of the problem, just as if they were numbers.
Study the example below to see how the factor label method can be used to convert [latex]\displaystyle 2\frac{1}{4}[/latex] pounds to ounces.
How many ounces are in [latex]\displaystyle 2\frac{1}{4}[/latex] pounds?
Begin by reasoning about your answer. Since a pound is heavier than an ounce, expect your answer to be a number greater than [latex]\displaystyle 2\tfrac{1}{4}[/latex].Multiply by the conversion factor that relates ounces and pounds: [latex]\displaystyle \frac{16\text{ ounces}}{1\text{ pound}}[/latex].