Conversion of pounds to ounces (lbs to oz)

Symbol

The symbol for the pound is "lb."

Description

A pound is a unit of mass that's heavier than a gram but lighter than one kilogram. By definition, exactly 0.45359237 kilograms is termed as one pound. Therefore, one kilogram is about 2.20462 lbs.

To convert lb to g, you need to multiply lb value by 453.59237 and you will have the equivalent gram. Inversely, to convert gram to pound, divide gram value by 453.59237.

Pound is so defined that 16 ounces make one pound. So 8 ounces make 0.5 lbs.

History

Pound was originally based on the weight of grains or seeds dating back to ancient times. Over time, standardized pounds emerged, such as the avoirdupois pound (the common pound used today) used in the United States.

Despite the metric system being prevalent in most parts of the world, the pound remains a familiar unit of measurement in the United States and other countries with historical ties to British influence.

Use

Pounds are widely used in the United States for various purposes, especially for everyday weight measurements like body weight, groceries, or packages.

Symbol

The symbol for ounce is "oz."

Description

An ounce is a smaller unit of mass compared to a pound. It is defined as one-sixteenth of a pound. So, to convert oz to lb (pounds), you just need to divide the number of ounces by 16.

One ounce equals to about 28 grams, 28.349523125 grams to be exact. To convert ounce to gram, multiply the ounce value by this number.

For oz to kg conversion, multiply the ounces value by 0.0283495231 and you will get the equivalent mass in kg.

History

The history of the ounce traces back to ancient Rome, where it was originally based on the weight of one Roman ounce of gold or silver. It was derived from the word "uncia" which means "twelfth part". A standard copper bar was used to define foot and pound in the Roman era. This bar was subdivided into twelve equal parts or unciae. Eventually these uncia became the standard for defining the common ounce.

Over time, different regions developed their own versions of the ounce, leading to variations in size.

Today, the most common types of ounces are the avoirdupois ounce (used in the United States and other countries) and the troy ounce (used for precious metals like gold and silver).

Use

Ounce is not as widely used as it was before. It is still used in many parts of the world mostly for measuring food items or postal packages.