Conversion of measurement units

Here you will learn about the conversion of units including conversions between metric units and between customary units.

Students will first learn about conversion of measurement as part of measurement and data in katex is not definedth grade.

What is the conversion of measurement units?

The conversion of measurement units is taking a given unit, such as a length, capacity, mass or time and showing the same measurement with a different unit.

For example,

How many minutes are in katex is not defined hours?

Hours is a measurement of time.

Using the relationship between each, you can convert between the units of time.

Since there are katex is not defined minutes in katex is not defined hour, there are katex is not defined minutes in katex is not defined hours.

katex is not defined minutes (katex is not defined hour)

katex is not defined minutes (katex is not defined hour)

katex is not defined minutes (katex is not defined hours)

Each measurement system has their own conversion factors.

• The metric system is based on powers of katex is not defined It is considered the International system of units katex is not defined units. The prefixes that come before the katex is not defined base units, such as kilo, centi, deci and milli, are used to indicate which power of katex is not defined is involved.

For example,

katex is not defined

• The customary system is an older system of measurements, but it is still used in some places. The customary units are NOT based on powers of katex is not defined

For example,

katex is not defined

For both systems, you can convert units of measurement using conversion factors.

The conversion factor is a number you multiply or divide by to change units.

For example,

Below are the conversion factors for meters.

Convert katex is not defined centimeters into meters.

There are katex is not defined in katex is not definedThis is the conversion factor. To convert from katex is not defined to katex is not defined you need to divide.

So, katex is not defined

For example,

Below are the conversion factors for capacity (volume) in the customary system.

Convert katex is not defined quarts into pints.

There are katex is not defined in katex is not defined This is the conversion factor. To convert from katex is not defined to katex is not defined, you need to multiply.

So, katex is not defined

You can also use unit conversions for time.

For example,

How many minutes are there in katex is not defined hours?

There are katex is not defined minutes in katex is not defined hour.

So, katex is not defined

What is the conversion of measurement units?

Common Core State Standards

How does this relate to katex is not definedth grade math?

• Grade 5 – Measurement and Data (5.MD.A.1)
  Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system (For example, convert katex is not defined to katex is not defined), and use these conversions in solving multi-step, real world problems.

How to convert measurement units

In order to convert measurement units:

1. Find the conversion factor.
2. Multiply or divide by the conversion factor.
3. Write down the answer.

Conversion of units examples

Example 1: converting units of time

Convert katex is not defined minutes to seconds.

1. Find the conversion factor.

Since seconds is the desired unit, you need the conversion factor between minutes and seconds:

katex is not defined

The conversion factor for minutes and seconds is katex is not defined

2Multiply or divide by the conversion factor.

Look at the relationship in the original conversion.

From minutes to seconds, the relationship is multiplying by katex is not defined

Multiply katex is not defined minutes by katex is not defined:

katex is not defined

3Write down the answer.

katex is not defined

Example 2: converting units of length

Convert katex is not defined inches to feet.

Multiply or divide by the conversion factor.

Look at the relationship in the original conversion.

From inches to feet, the relationship is dividing by katex is not defined

Divide katex is not defined inches by katex is not defined:

katex is not defined

Example 3: converting units of capacity

Convert katex is not defined liters to milliliters.

Multiply or divide by the conversion factor.

Look at the relationship in the original conversion.

From liters to milliliters, the relationship is multiplying by katex is not defined

Multiply katex is not defined liters by katex is not defined:

katex is not defined

Example 4: converting units of mass

Convert katex is not defined kilograms to milligrams.

Multiply or divide by the conversion factor.

Look at the relationship in the original conversion.

From kilograms to milligrams, the relationship is multiplying by katex is not defined

Multiply katex is not defined kilograms by katex is not defined:

katex is not defined

Example 5: converting units of time

Convert katex is not defined seconds to hours.

Multiply or divide by the conversion factor.

Look at the relationship in the original conversions.

From seconds to minutes, the relationship is dividing by katex is not defined

Divide katex is not defined seconds by katex is not defined:

katex is not defined

From minutes to hours, the relationship is dividing by katex is not defined

Divide katex is not defined minutes by katex is not defined:

katex is not defined

Example 6: converting units of length

Convert katex is not defined meters to kilometers.

Multiply or divide by the conversion factor.

Look at the relationship in the original conversion.

From meters to kilometers, the relationship is dividing by katex is not defined

Divide katex is not defined meters by katex is not defined:

katex is not defined

Teaching tips for conversion of measurement units

• Worksheets with a conversion table are a good way for students to practice converting measurements. Providing the table allows students to focus on the relationship instead of trying to remember the conversion rates.

• Give students opportunities to measure items around the classroom or school. This includes having them measure the same item in different units (like a desk in katex is not defined and katex is not defined) or an amount of water in katex is not defined and katex is not defined This helps students understand that converting measurements doesn’t change the actual amount, it just changes the way it is measured.

• If students are really struggling, let them use a conversion calculator or unit converter, but require them to explain the conversion and the calculations that were made. With time, once they have seen enough examples, they can begin to solve problems without the additional assistance.

Easy mistakes to make

• Fractions of an hour
  Remember that time is not base katex is not defined A quarter as a fraction is katex is not defined and as a decimal is katex is not defined but a quarter of an hour is katex is not defined minutes.
  For example,
  katex is not defined hours is katex is not defined hours and katex is not defined minutes.
  katex is not defined days is katex is not defined day and katex is not defined hours.

• Confusing when to multiply and divide
  Converting from a larger unit to a smaller unit (like meter to centimeter) is done by multiplying by katex is not defined This can be confusing since going from larger to small units is done by multiplying. Always stop and think about the conversion before deciding which operation to use.

• Using the conversion factor to add or subtract
  The relationship between units is multiplicative, which is why conversions are done in multiplication and division. Using addition or subtraction will lead to the incorrect answer.

• Thinking the conversion factor of area is the one dimensional factor
  Area is a two-dimensional measurement and therefore does not convert in the same way as one-dimensional measurements.
  For example,
  katex is not defined but katex is not defined ≠ katex is not defined
  katex is not defined but katex is not defined ≠ katex is not defined

• Thinking the conversion factor of volume is the one dimensional factor
  Volume is a three-dimensional measurement and therefore does not convert in the same way as one-dimensional measurements.
  For example,
  katex is not defined but katex is not defined ≠ katex is not defined
  katex is not defined but katex is not defined ≠ katex is not defined

Related units of measurement lessons

• Units of measurement
• Converting metric units
• Converting units of time
• Metric units of measurement

The next lessons are

• Represent and interpret data
• Ratio
• Proportion

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