Find the weight in pounds of a 140-kilogram person. Round to the nearest hundredth. 0.14 lb 1,400 lb 308 lb 140 lb 616 lb
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To convert 140 kilograms to pounds, we use the conversion factor:
1 kilogram = 2.20462 pounds
So, 140 kilograms × 2.20462 = 308.6468 pounds
Rounding to the nearest hundredth, we get: 308.65 pounds
Among the given options, the closest is 308 lb. Although it is rounded to the nearest whole number rather than the hundredth, it is clearly the correct choice when compared to the other incorrect values.
Explanation
Unit conversions are essential in fields such as science, medicine, fitness, and international communication. When converting kilograms to pounds, we multiply by the constant 2.20462, which is the number of pounds in one kilogram. This constant is based on the definition of the pound relative to the international kilogram standard.
In our case, the person weighs 140 kilograms. Multiplying this value by 2.20462 yields approximately 308.6468 pounds. To round this to the nearest hundredth, we observe the third decimal digit. If the third digit is five or more, the second decimal digit increases by one. Otherwise, it remains unchanged. Since the third digit is 6, we round up, turning 308.6468 into 308.65 pounds.
This level of precision can be important in scientific measurements or when dosage and body weight are closely linked. However, for general estimation or fitness purposes, rounding to the nearest whole number is often sufficient. This is likely why the multiple-choice answer of 308 lb is presented as the most accurate option, even though it slightly differs from the hundredth-place rounding.
The remaining choices are all unrealistic or incorrectly calculated. For example, 0.14 lb is far too small, while 1400 lb and 616 lb are excessive for a 140-kilogram mass. The option 140 lb mistakenly reflects a one-to-one conversion, which disregards the proper conversion factor.
By applying a straightforward multiplication and rounding rule, we arrive at the correct and reasonable approximation of the person’s weight in pounds.
