The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL, January twelfth, simplifying metric and celsius.

What is one ten-millionth the distance from Dunkerque to Barcelona? That arcane formula once determined the length of a metric meter, which is now more precisely defined as the distance a beam of light travels through a vacuum in just under one three hundred millionth of a second. Yet despite years of creeping familiarity, metric measurements still mystify many Americans, who inhabit the world's only major non-metric nation. With that in mind, here are a few key formulas to help you simplify foreign conversions.

One meter translates to 3.28 feet, about three inches more than a yard, which makes one mile just over 1.6 kilometers. To convert kilometers into approximate miles, multiply by point six two. Thus, a 100 kilometer trip measures about 62 miles.

When it comes to weight, to translate kilograms into pounds, multiply by 2.2. Soft drinks have given Americans a concept of a liter, about 1.057 quarts, while a gallon translates to 3 and 3/4 liters.

When the weather forecast calls for 20 degrees celsius, you should leave your mittens packed. Above freezing, you can approximate fahrenheit temperatures by multiplying the celsius number by 1.8 and adding 32. So 20 celsius is about 68 fahrenheit. For temperatures below zero, ignore the minus sign, double the celsius number and subtract from 32. Thus, minus ten degrees celsius equals 12 degrees fahrenheit. There now, doesn't that make it simple?

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