Warm-up
Three quick questions from earlier lessons.
Discover
A table is 2 meters long. About how many centimeters is that?
- 200
- 0.02
Key idea
Smaller units: more of them.
To convert, use the rate between the units (1 ft = 12 in, 1 yd = 3 ft, 1 m = 100 cm, 1 kg = 1000 g). Converting to a smaller unit, multiply; to a larger unit, divide.
Worked example
Convert 54 inches to feet.
ft
Feet are larger: divide.
Your turn, guided
Your turn: 3 kg in grams.
× 1000.
Practice ★
- How many inches are in 5 feet? (1 foot = 12 inches)
- How many inches are in 2 feet? (1 foot = 12 inches)
- How many meters are 600 centimeters? (1 m = 100 cm)
Watch out!
Practice ★★
- A rope is 11 yards and 2 feet long. How long is it in feet? (1 yard = 3 feet)
- A rope is 10 yards and 2 feet long. How long is it in feet? (1 yard = 3 feet)
Exit ticket
Three questions to check you have got it.
- How many inches are in 5 feet? (1 foot = 12 inches)
- How many inches are in 2 feet? (1 foot = 12 inches)
- How many inches are in 7 feet? (1 foot = 12 inches)
Summary card
Converting units
To a smaller unit: multiply; to a larger unit: divide.
Watch out: check that the answer makes sense in size.
End of the lesson
Next lesson: Unit rates: price per item, speed Back to the chapter