By Lindsay Fendt
5/11/0
In chapter 11 of “Math Tools for Journalists,” Kathleen Woodruff Wickham explains the importance of volume measurements. Journalists often need to use simple math to calculate the approximate volumes for various stories. Volume can tell you how much of something is used or needed in a variety of scenarios.
The first type of measurements Wickham explains are liquid volumes. There are many conversions required when talking about liquids because of the metric and standard systems, and also because of the variety of different types of measurements. Making these conversions is simple by using division or multiplication.
| Measurement | Equivalent |
| 2 tablespoon | 1 fluid ounce |
| ½ pint | 8 ounces or one cup |
| 1 pint | 16 ounces or two cups |
| 2 pints | 1 quart |
| 2 quarts | ½ gallon |
| 4 quarts | 1 gallon |
| 1 U.S. standard barrel | 31.5 gallons |
| 1 U.S. gallon | 4/5 Imperial gallon |
| British or Canadian barrel | 36 imperial gallons |
Wickham also explains how to calculate the volume of a rectangular solid. This can be accomplished by multiplying the length of the shape, the width and the height. This is useful building stories that require the calculation of an area.
Practice Problems
1) Sam is writing a story about a rectangular building being constructed in the middle of the city. The building is going to be occupying a block that is 100 feet by 100 feet and will be 100 feet tall. What is the volume of the building?
100 x 100 x 100 = 1,000,000 feet
2) There was record-breaking heat in London today. Many people died of heat exhaustion and you need to report on it. It was 44.8 degrees Celsius, what was the temperature in Fahrenheit?
(1.8 x 44.8) + 32= 112 degrees Fahrenheit
3) The city is selling a portion of their land in order to increase revenue the land is 100 feet by 200 feet. What is the area of the land?
100 x 200 = 20,000 feet
4) A drunk driver was arrested after a car crash where 2 people were killed. You are writing a story about it and need to calculate how fast the driver was going. The driver was never clocked, but a friend saw him leave the bar at 11 P.M. and the crash occurred at approximately 11:30 P.M. 55 miles away. How fast was the car traveling.
55 miles ÷ .5 hours = 110 MPH
