The Conversions Worth Memorizing
Temperature
- 0°C = 32°F (freezing point)
- 100°C = 212°F (boiling point)
- 37°C = 98.6°F (normal body temperature)
Distance
- 1 km ≈ 0.6 miles
- 1 mile ≈ 1.6 km
- 1 inch = 2.54 cm
Weight
- 1 kg ≈ 2.2 pounds
- 1 pound ≈ 454 grams
The Conversions to Always Look Up
Don't try to memorize these — use a tool every time:
- Obscure units (furlongs, fathoms, barrels, stone)
- Currency exchange rates (they change daily)
- Scientific unit conversions (joules to BTU, watts to horsepower)
Why Online Converters Beat Mental Math
For anything beyond the rough conversions above, a dedicated unit converter:
- Is faster than doing math
- Shows multiple units at once
- Eliminates errors
- Works for obscure units you'd never memorize
The Bottom Line
Memorize the handful of conversions you use weekly. For everything else, reach for an online converter without guilt. That's why they exist.