Mnemonic devices are memory aids that can help you remember information more easily. When it comes to converting measurements, there are several mnemonic devices that can help you remember common conversions. Here are some examples:
- “Kings Hate Dragons But Dogs Chase Mice”
This mnemonic device can help you remember the conversion factors for length measurements:
• Kings: kilometer to mile (1 kilometer = 0.621371 mile)
• Hate: hectometer to yard (1 hectometer = 1093.61 yards)
• Dragons: decameter to chain (1 decameter = 0.0497097 chain)
• But: meter to yard (1 meter = 1.09361 yards)
• Dogs: decimeter to inch (1 decimeter = 3.93701 inches)
• Chase: centimeter to inch (1 centimeter = 0.393701 inches)
• Mice: millimeter to inch (1 millimeter = 0.0393701 inches)
By using this mnemonic device, you can quickly recall the conversion factors for length measurements. - “King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk”
This is another mnemonic device that can help you remember the conversion factors for length measurements:
• King: kilometer (1 kilometer = 1000 meters)
• Henry: hectometer (1 hectometer = 100 meters)
• Died: decameter (1 decameter = 10 meters)
• By: meter (1 meter = 1 meter)
• Drinking: decimeter (1 decimeter = 0.1 meter)
• Chocolate: centimeter (1 centimeter = 0.01 meter)
• Milk: millimeter (1 millimeter = 0.001 meter)
By using this mnemonic device, you can quickly recall the different metric prefixes and their corresponding values. - “Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants”
This mnemonic device can help you remember the order of metric prefixes:
• Big: kilo- (1 kilometer = 1000 meters)
• Elephants: hecto- (1 hectometer = 100 meters)
• Can: deca- (1 decameter = 10 meters)
• Always: meter (1 meter = 1 meter)
• Understand: deci- (1 decimeter = 0.1 meter)
• Small: centi- (1 centimeter = 0.01 meter)
• Elephants: milli- (1 millimeter = 0.001 meter)
By using this mnemonic device, you can quickly recall the order of metric prefixes and their corresponding values. - “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally”
This mnemonic device can help you remember the order of operations for solving math problems, including conversions:
• Parentheses
• Exponents
• Multiplication
• Division
• Addition
• Subtraction
By using this mnemonic device, you can ensure that you are following the correct order of operations when making conversions. - “The King Henry Died Drinking Chocolate Milk In Millimeters”
This mnemonic device combines the King Henry and metric length conversion mnemonic devices to help you remember both the order of metric prefixes and the conversion factors for length measurements.
By using these mnemonic devices, you can quickly recall important information related to converting measurements. Whether you are working with length, volume, or weight measurements, these memory aids can help you make accurate conversions quickly and efficiently.
How Did These Devices Start?
The origins of these mnemonic devices are not clear, as they have been passed down over time and have become widely used in various fields. However, they are believed to have been created by educators, mathematicians, and scientists who sought to make complex information more accessible and easier to remember.
For example, the “King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk” mnemonic device is commonly used in science classrooms to help students remember the order of metric prefixes, while “Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants” is often used to help students remember the metric prefixes themselves.
Similarly, the “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” mnemonic device is commonly used in math classrooms to help students remember the order of operations, while the “Kings Hate Dragons But Dogs Chase Mice” mnemonic device is often used to help students remember the conversion factors for length measurements.
Overall, these mnemonic devices have become popular tools for educators and students alike, helping to simplify complex information and make it more accessible to learners of all ages and backgrounds.
What If I Do Not Know How to Convert Measurements?
If you are not familiar with how to convert measurements, then maybe these devices simply confuse you. This can be frustrating. But do not worry because there are several steps you can take to learn how to convert measurements. You can start with these steps…
- Use conversion tools
One of the easiest ways to convert measurements is to use online conversion tools. There are many free conversion tools available on the internet that can quickly and easily convert between different units of measurement. Simply input the measurement you want to convert, select the unit of measurement you want to convert it to, and the tool will calculate the conversion for you. - Consult a conversion chart
Another option is to consult a conversion chart, which can be found online or in various reference books. A conversion chart lists the most common conversions for a given unit of measurement, making it easy to look up the conversion you need. - Ask for help
If you are still having difficulty with conversions, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can consult with a math teacher, tutor, or even a friend who is familiar with conversions to help guide you through the process. - Practice, practice, practice
As with any new skill, practice is key to mastering conversions. Make an effort to practice converting measurements regularly, and challenge yourself by converting different types of measurements or using different methods of conversion. - Take a class
If you are struggling to grasp conversions on your own, consider taking a class or enrolling in a tutoring program. Many community colleges and adult education programs offer courses in mathematics and science that can help you develop your skills in converting measurements.
At the end of the day, if you are not familiar with how to convert measurements, there are several steps you can take to learn how to do so. By using conversion tools, consulting conversion charts, asking for help, practicing regularly, and taking a class, you can become more comfortable with the process of converting measurements and improve your overall mathematical abilities.
