If an object weighs 44 pounds, what is its mass in kilograms?

If an object weighs 44 pounds, what is its mass in kilograms?

• A. 20 kg
• B. 18 kg
• C. 22 kg
• D. 24 kg

Answer: (A)

The concept here is converting weight in pounds to mass in kilograms using a standard conversion factor. On Earth, 1 kilogram has a mass that weighs about 2.2046 pounds. So to find the mass in kilograms from a weight in pounds, divide by that factor: mass ≈ weight / 2.2046. For a weight of 44 pounds, mass ≈ 44 / 2.2046 ≈ 19.96 kg, which rounds to about 20 kg. Using the simpler mental math approximation 2.2 for the conversion gives 44 ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg exactly, which is why the answer is about 20 kg. Keep in mind weight and mass are related by gravity, but for typical classroom problems the mass in kilograms is found via this conversion.

The concept here is converting weight in pounds to mass in kilograms using a standard conversion factor. On Earth, 1 kilogram has a mass that weighs about 2.2046 pounds. So to find the mass in kilograms from a weight in pounds, divide by that factor: mass ≈ weight / 2.2046.

For a weight of 44 pounds, mass ≈ 44 / 2.2046 ≈ 19.96 kg, which rounds to about 20 kg. Using the simpler mental math approximation 2.2 for the conversion gives 44 ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg exactly, which is why the answer is about 20 kg.

Keep in mind weight and mass are related by gravity, but for typical classroom problems the mass in kilograms is found via this conversion.