If you live in an Anglo-Saxon country, you may often have to convert kilograms into pounds; fortunately, this is a fairly simple calculation. In most cases, that's enough for you multiply the number of kilograms by 2, 2 and get the equivalent in pounds; more formally, you can say they are there 2, 2046 pounds in each kilogram.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Convert
Step 1. Write the number in kilograms
Switching from this unit of measurement to pounds is not difficult at all; Best of all, once learned this skill is very useful on several real-life occasions. To get started, write down the kilogram value you want to convert.
For example, suppose you want to convert 5, 9 kg in pounds; the next steps explain how to proceed.
Step 2. Multiply the data by 2, 2
The next step is to simply multiply the weight in kilograms by the factor 2, 2; the product obtained is the number of pounds equivalent to the value expressed in kg.
- Considering the example described above, you can multiply 5, 9 by 2, 2 to get: 5, 9 × 2, 2 = 12, 98 lbs.
- Don't forget to write the symbol of the new unit of measure. If you are doing equivalence on a school assignment, you may lose valuable points if you forget this detail; if the calculations have practical application, the person reading your documents may misunderstand the measurements.
Step 3. To get a more accurate figure, multiply by 2, 2046
Multiplication by the factor 2, 2 is actually a shortcut to the simpler equivalences; if you need to get information as accurately as possible, in most cases the factor 2, 2046 should be enough.
- As for the above example, if you use the most accurate factor, you get: 5.9 × 2, 2046 = 13,00714 lbs. The difference with the previous result is minimal, but if your goal is to have accurate information, this is the best choice.
- If you want an even greater level of accuracy, consider using a conversion factor with more decimal places; in extreme cases know that 1 kg = 2, 2046226218 lbs.
Step 4. To convert the data back to kilograms, divide the number by 2, 2
Going from pounds to kilograms is as simple as dividing the value by the conversion factor. In other words, if you used the elementary factor "2, 2" described above, divide the number of pounds by 2, 2; if you used 2, 2046, keep the same value even in division and so on.
- Always consider the problem presented at the beginning of the article and suppose you have to go from 12, 98 pounds to the original data expressed in kilograms; in this case, the calculation is: 12, 98/2, 2 = 5, 9 kg. Don't forget the unit of measurement!
- Don't get confused with conversion factors; use as a divisor only the factor you initially used in multiplication. For example, if you got the value of 13, 00714 pounds when you used the more precise factor "2, 2046", do not do the inverse calculations by dividing by "2, 2", otherwise you get 13, 00714/2, 2 = 5, 912 kg which is slightly different from the initial weight.
Method 2 of 2: Convert to Pounds and Ounces
Step 1. Convert kilograms to pounds to get a given decimal
There are many ways to write a weight in pounds when you are not using an integer. The two most common methods are the use of decimal numbers (for example 6.5 pounds) and fractions (6 1/2 pounds); alternatively, you can use ounces. One pound is made up of 16 ounces, so a value expressed as 6 pounds and 8 ounces equals 6 8/16 pounds (i.e. 6 1/2 pounds).
To switch from kilograms to a datum expressed in this way, start with the conversion described in the first section of the article. For example, if you want to convert 7 kg into pounds and ounces, start by multiplying: 7 × 2, 2 = 15.4 lbs.
Step 2. Divide the decimal places by 0.0625
As stated earlier, one ounce is 1/16 of a pound which equates to 0.0625 pounds. If you divide the decimal part of the solution by this conversion factor, you find the equivalent in ounces.
For example, if you want to transcribe in terms of pounds and ounces the figure of 15.4 pounds that you found in the previous step, you must find the number of these by dividing 0, 4/0, 0625 = 6, 4. This means that the decimal part ("0, 4") of "15, 4 pounds" matches 6.4 ounces.
Step 3. Write the result in the format "x pounds, y ounces"
Once you know the weight in pounds and the number of ounces, you can write the solution as a combination of the two; first note the value of the pounds and then that of the ounces. For example: 10 lbs, 3 ounces.
To go back to the initial example, you have 15 pounds (from the conversion 15.4 pounds) and you know that the decimal portion (0.4) corresponds to 6.4 ounces. This means you can write the result as 15 lbs., 6.4 ounces.
Step 4. Go back to find the kilograms
To convert a weight expressed in pounds and ounces to kilograms, you need to perform two steps. First, you need to convert ounces into pounds by multiplying them by 0.0625; next, you need to find the kg equivalent of the weight in pounds by dividing the value by 2, 2 (or by the conversion factor you used at the beginning).
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In the problem taken for example you should proceed in this way:
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- Start from the given 15 pounds, 6.4 ounces;
- Multiply 6.4 × 0.0625 = 0.4 pounds
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Add the result to 15 and you get 15.4 pounds;
- Divide 15, 4/2, 2 to get 7 kg.
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Advice
- The word pound or pounds is often abbreviated with the symbol lb. The term derives from the Latin "libra" which means "balance"; the term ounce and ounces is instead indicated with "oz".
- If you're in a hurry, you can use an online calculator like this one to quickly convert kilograms to pounds.
