Converting Measurements
Lesson 1.1 - Grade 6
Review of multiplication and division of
decimals
When multiplying a decimal by a multiple of 10 (such as 10, 100, 1000, etc.), the decimal
point shifts to the right by the number of zeros in the multiple.
For example: 0.7 × 100 = 70.
When dividing a decimal by a multiple of 10 (such as 10, 100, 1000, etc.), the decimal point
shifts to the left by the number of zeros in the multiple.
For example: 0.7 ÷ 100 = 0.007.
Why do we convert measurements?
● Our choice of measurement depends on what we are measuring and the reason for
measuring it
For example, which measurement is more appropriate for measuring the distance
between Ottawa and Toronto?
Kilometers Meters
Note:
large
We use (e.g.
e asu r ements
m ss
o m e te rs) for le ents
kil em
measur
detailed
smaller
We use (e.g.
ements
measur rs) for more
te
centime nd accurate
e d a
detail
re ments
measu
Examples of measurements
Some examples of measurement units include:
Centimeters
Meters
Kilometers
Milliliters
Liters
Seconds
Hours
This table shows
some examples of
common
measurement units.
Let’s try some exercises!
Select the measurement that is the most appropriate for each object:
The length of the
pencil The capacity of the The weight of an ant
milk jug
Metric Prefixes
Prefix: a word that comes before another word or a “base” word
Metric Kilo-unit Hecto-unit Deca-unit Unit Deci-unit Centi-unit Milli-unit
Prefix
Unit Value 1000 units 100 units 10 units 1 unit 0.1 units 0.001 units 0.0001
units
Place Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones Tenths Hundredths Thousandths
Value
Observe the row labelled “Unit Value”. What do you notice about the values as we
move to the left of the chart? What about to the right?
Metric Prefixes
As we move to the left of the chart, we multiply the unit value by 10. It is 10 times larger
than the unit to its right.
Metric Kilo-unit Hecto-unit Deca-unit Unit Deci-unit Centi-unit Milli-unit
Prefix
Unit Value 1000 units 100 units 10 units 1 unit 0.1 units 0.001 units 0.0001
units
Place Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones Tenths Hundredths Thousandths
Value
x1 ÷1
0 0
As we move to the right of the chart, we divide the unit value by 10. It is 10 times smaller
than the unit to its left.
Metric Prefixes
What would the chart look like if the unit were meters?
Metric Kilo-unit Hecto-unit Deca-unit Unit Deci-unit Centi-unit Milli-unit
Prefix
Unit Value 1000 units 100 units 10 units 1 unit 0.1 units 0.001 units 0.0001
units
Place Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones Tenths Hundredths Thousandths
Value
x1 ÷1
0 0
Metric Prefixes
What would the chart look like if the unit were meters?
Metric Kilometers Hectometers Decameter Meters Decimeters Centimeter Millimeters
Prefix s s
Unit Value 1000 100 meters 10 meters 1 meter 0.1 meters 0.001 0.0001
meters meters meters
Place Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones Tenths Hundredths Thousandths
Value
x1 ÷1
0 0
Let’s try some exercises!
Convert the following measurements to the indicated unit:
Metric Kilo-unit Hecto-unit Deca-unit Unit Deci-unit Centi-unit Milli-unit
Prefix
1. 10 meters to centimeters
2. 15 millimeters to centimeters Unit
Value
1000 units 100 units 10 units 1 unit 0.1 units 0.001
units
0.0001
units
3. 5 liters to milliliters
4. 27 kilometers to decimeters Place
Value
Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones Tenths Hundredth
s
Thousandt
hs
Challenge:
x1 ÷1
12.7 decaliters to milliliters 0 0
Answers
Convert the following measurements to the indicated unit:
1. 10 meters to centimeters = 1000 cm
2. 15 millimeters to centimeters = 1.5 cm
3. 5 liters to milliliters = 5000 liters
4. 27 kilometers to decameters = 0.27 decameters
Challenge:
12.7 decaliters to milliliters = 127,000 milliliters
Let’s try some true or false questions!
True or false:
1. 74mm = 0.74cm
2. 350mL = 35L
3. 75cm = 7.5m
4. 1500g = 1.5kg
5. 3kg = 3000g
True or false answers:
1. False: 74mm = 7.4cm
2. False: 350mL = 0.35L
3. False: 75cm = 0.075m
4. True
5. True
Word Problems
Use your understanding of unit conversions to answer the following word
problems:
1. Emily is measuring the length of her new desk. The length of the desk is 3.5 meters. Emily
wants to know how many centimeters her desk is.
2. Brian completed a run that was 10.5 kilometers long. How many meters did Brian run?
Word Problems
Use your understanding of unit conversions to answer the challenge word problem:
1. Cecilia’s new fish needs a fish tank. The proper capacity of her fish tank should be 3.5L.
Cecilia’s measuring cup can only use milliliters. How many milliliters of water should
Cecilia use to reach 3.5L?