Police Math Unit Conversion Problems Flashcards

An officer recovers a small bag containing 140 grams of a suspicious substance. To include the weight in a report for a federal agency that uses the imperial system, the officer must convert the weight to ounces. What is the approximate weight in ounces? (Use 1 ounce ≈ 28 grams)

Answer: 5.0 ounces

To convert grams to ounces, divide the number of grams by the conversion factor. 140 grams / 28 grams per ounce = 5.0 ounces.

A crime scene investigator determines that a rectangular evidence storage unit measures 4 yards in length and 2 yards in width. What is the total area of the storage unit in SQUARE FEET?

Answer: 72 square feet

First, convert the dimensions from yards to feet. Since 1 yard = 3 feet, the length is 4 yards * 3 = 12 feet, and the width is 2 yards * 3 = 6 feet. Then, calculate the area by multiplying length by width: 12 feet * 6 feet = 72 square feet.

An officer is assigned to a foot patrol route that is 2.5 miles long. If the officer must document the route's length in feet for a training manual, what is the correct distance? (1 mile = 5,280 feet)

Answer: 13,200 feet

To convert miles to feet, multiply the number of miles by the conversion factor. 2.5 miles * 5,280 feet per mile = 13,200 feet.

A police department is purchasing new patrol vehicles with fuel tanks that have a 16-gallon capacity. For an internal fleet comparison report using metric units, this capacity needs to be stated in liters. What is the tank capacity in liters? (Use 1 gallon ≈ 3.8 liters)

Answer: 60.8 liters

To find the total capacity in liters, multiply the number of gallons by the conversion factor. 16 gallons * 3.8 liters per gallon = 60.8 liters.

An officer's body camera recorded for a total of 4 hours and 15 minutes during a shift. How many total seconds of footage were recorded?

Answer: 15,300 seconds

First, convert the hours to seconds: 4 hours * 60 minutes/hour * 60 seconds/minute = 14,400 seconds. Next, convert the remaining minutes to seconds: 15 minutes * 60 seconds/minute = 900 seconds. Finally, add the two values together: 14,400 + 900 = 15,300 seconds.

For a crime scene diagram, an officer measures the distance between two shell casings as 5 feet and 4 inches. The reporting software requires the entire measurement to be in inches. What is the total distance in inches?

Answer: 64 inches

First, convert the feet to inches by multiplying by 12 (since there are 12 inches in a foot): 5 feet * 12 inches/foot = 60 inches. Then, add the remaining 4 inches: 60 inches + 4 inches = 64 inches.