# Customary Units – Definition with Examples

» Customary Units – Definition with Examples

## Customary Units

Customary system
The customary system of measurement is defined as a set of weights and measures used for measuring length, weight, capacity, and temperature. Based on the English system of measurement, is also known as the U.S. Customary System.

### Customary Units for Length

The customary units to measure length and distances in the customary system are inches, feet, yards, and miles.

Customary Units for Measuring Length

We can use the given chart for the conversion of one customary unit of length to another.

Example: Convert 5 feet to inches.

1 foot = 12 inches

5 foot = 12 × 5 = 60 inches

The table given below shows the relation between customary units and standard metric units.

### Customary Units for Weight

The U.S. customary units for measuring weight are ounces, pounds, and tons.

We can convert the customary unit of weight by using the giving relations.

Example: How many ounces are there in 1 ton?

1 ton = 2000 pounds

1 pound = 16 ounces

So, 2000 pounds = 2000 × 16 = 32000 ounces

### Customary Units for Capacity (Volume)

The U.S. customary capacity or volume measurement units are ounces, cups, pints, quarts, and gallons.

Customary Units for Measuring Capacity (Volume)

Example: Convert 3 quarts to cups.

1 quart = 2 pints

3 quarts = 6 pints

1 pint = 2 cups

6 pints = 6 × 2 = 12 cups

### Customary Units for Temperature

The U.S. customary measurement unit for temperature is °Fahrenheit.

1 °C = 33.8 °F

## Practice Problems

In the US customary system, inch, foot, yard, and mile are used for measuring length. 1 foot = 12 inches, 1 yard = 3 feet, and 1 mile = 1,760 yards.

There are three countries in the world that use customary units – the United States, Myanmar, and Liberia. The majority of countries use metric units and a few countries use a hybrid system.

In the metric system, units have the same root word & only the prefix changes (e.g., millimeter, centimeter, decimeter, etc.), so they are easier to learn. In the US customary system, units do not sound alike (e.g., inch, foot, yard).

Imperial and customary systems are not exactly the same. Units such as cubic inches, cubic feet, etc. are the same in both systems, however, units like bushels, gallons, etc. are different in the two systems. One set of units is used for fluids and another for dry goods in the US standard system (e.g., US liquid quart and US dry quart). There is only one set of units for both fluids and dry goods in the imperial system.

Comparing Lengths

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Comparing Heights

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Comparing Weights

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