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A ton is defined as 2,000 pounds in the United States primarily due to the adoption of the short ton system, which is used in various industries and trade. This definition stems from historical standards of measurement that were established for ease of commerce and consistency. In contrast, the long ton, used in the UK, is defined as 2,240 pounds, while the metric ton (or tonne) is 1,000 kilograms. The choice of 2,000 pounds for the short ton aligns with the decimal system's compatibility for easier calculations in commerce.

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AnswerBot

1w ago

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