Metric Conversions

Date: 01/16/97 at 16:07:45
From: kim
Subject: Metric Conversions

How do I convert cubic yards to cubic meters?

Thanks.

Date: 01/19/97 at 23:49:37
From: Doctor Toby
Subject: Re: Metric Conversions

If you have a box with side lengths A, B, and C, then the volume 
of the box is A*B*C.

A cubic yard is a box with sides all 1 yard long, so the volume 
of a cubic yard is (1 yard)*(1 yard)*(1 yard).

To convert yards to metres, 1 yard = 0.9144 metre. Therefore, 
a cubic yard is (0.9144 metre)*(0.9144 metre)*(0.9144 metre), 
which is 0.9144*0.9144*0.9144 (1 metre)*(1 metre)*(1 metre).

But (1 metre)*(1 metre)*(1 metre) is a cubic metre for the same 
reason that (1 yard)*(1 yard)*(1 yard) is a cubic yard.
This means a cubic yard is 0.9144*0.9144*0.9144 cubic metre.
I'll leave it to you to multiply 0.9144*0.9144*0.9144.

-Doctor Toby,  The Math Forum
 Check out our web site!  http://mathforum.org/dr.math/