Imperial Units have a number of different units for each type of measurement. There is no standard relationship between the different units. The abbreviations are is shown in brackets.
| Length | |
| 1 mile | = 1760 yards (yds) |
| 1 yard (yd) | = 3 feet (ft) |
| 1 foot (ft) | = 12 inches (in) |
| Mass | |
| 1 ton | = 2240 pounds (lbs) |
| 1 ton | = 160 stones (sts) |
| 1 stone (st) | = 14 pounds (lbs) |
| 1 pound (lb) | = 16 ounces (oz) |
| Capacity | |
| 1 gallon (gal) | = 8 pints (pt) |
To convert between different units, draw a small table with the conversion on the first line, and the amount to be converted on the second. Then determine whether to multiply or divide during conversion.
Convert 42 inches to feet and inches.
Write the conversion for feet to inches in a table. Below the inches conversion write the 24 inches that you want to correct. As the conversion is going from a larger number to smaller number, it is a division.
| feet | --> | inches |
| 1 | x | 12 |
| 42÷12 = 3rem6 | 42 |
Answer: 3 feet 6 inches
Convert 300 ounces to stones, pounds and ounces.
First convert the ounces to pounds:
| pounds | --> | ounces |
| 1 | x | 16 |
| 300÷16 = 18rem12 | 300 |
An inverse operation: 300 ÷ 16 = 18 remainder 12, or 18 pounds 12 ounces. Put the 12 ounces to one side and convert the 18 pounds to stones:
| stones | --> | pounds |
| 1 | x | 14 |
| 18÷14 = 1rem4 | 18 |
Another inverse operation: 18 ÷ 14 = 1 remainder 4, so 1 stone 4 pounds.
Include the 12 ounces from the first operation.
1 stone 4 pounds 2 ounces (1st 4lb 2z).
Answer: 1 stone, 4 pounds, 12 ounces (1st 4lb 12oz)