This convenience could be the reason that the system was more popular than other systems of the time that used 10, 12, or 15 subdivisions.Ĭurrent use: The pound as a unit of weight is widely used in the United States, often for measuring body weight. This prototype weight could be divided into 16 ounces, a number that had three even divisors (8, 4, 2). It is a system that was based on a physical standardized pound that used a prototype weight. It was updated to its current form in 1959.

The avoirdupois system is a system that was commonly used in the 13 th century. History/origin: The pound descended from the Roman libra, and numerous different definitions of the pound were used throughout history prior to the international avoirdupois pound that is widely used today. The avoirdupois pound is equivalent to 16 avoirdupois ounces.

The international avoirdupois pound (the common pound used today) is defined as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms. Definition: A pound (symbol: lb) is a unit of mass used in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement.

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