UNITS(1)                                                              UNITS(1)



NAME
       units - conversion program

SYNOPSIS
       units

DESCRIPTION
       _U_n_i_t_s converts quantities expressed in various standard scales to their
       equivalents in other scales.  It works interactively in this fashion:

            _Y_o_u _h_a_v_e_: inch
            _Y_o_u _w_a_n_t_: cm
                 _* _2_._5_4_0_0_0_e_+_0_0
                 _/ _3_._9_3_7_0_1_e_-_0_1

       A quantity is  specified  as  a  multiplicative  combination  of  units
       optionally  preceded  by a numeric multiplier.  Powers are indicated by
       suffixed positive integers, division by the usual sign:

            _Y_o_u _h_a_v_e_: 15 pounds force/in2
            _Y_o_u _w_a_n_t_: atm
                 _* _1_._0_2_0_6_9_e_+_0_0
                 _/ _9_._7_9_7_3_0_e_-_0_1

       _U_n_i_t_s only does multiplicative scale  changes.   Thus  it  can  convert
       Kelvin  to  Rankine,  but  not Centigrade to Fahrenheit.  Most familiar
       units, abbreviations, and metric prefixes are recognized, together with
       a  generous  leavening of exotica and a few constants of nature includ‐
       ing:

            pi   ratio of circumference to diameter
            c    speed of light
            e    charge on an electron
            g    acceleration of gravity
            force     same as g
            mole Avogadro’s number
            water     pressure head per unit height of water
            au   astronomical unit

       ‘Pound’ is a unit of mass.   Compound  names  are  run  together,  e.g.
       ‘lightyear’.   British units that differ from their US counterparts are
       prefixed  thus:  ‘brgallon’.   Currency  is   denoted   ‘belgiumfranc’,
       ‘britainpound’, ...

       For a complete list of units, ‘cat /usr/lib/units’.

FILES
       /usr/lib/units

BUGS
       Don’t base your financial plans on the currency conversions.



7th Edition                     April 29, 1985                        UNITS(1)