Conversion of Metric Units April 2011. Kindly contributed by Joaquin Llorente, Trafford College. Search for Joaquin on www.skillsworkshop.org Visit the download page for this resource to find detailed teaching notes, curriculum links and related resources. Curriculum links Adult Numeracy MSS1/E3.5 (3.6) ((3.7)) Read, estimate, measure and compare length (weight) ((capacity))using common and standard units (b) Know that 10mm = 1cm, 1000mm = 1m; 1000g = 1 kg; 1000ml = 1 litre. MSS1/L1.7 Convert units of measure in the same system (a) know the relationship between metric units MSS1/L2.5 Calculate with units of measure within the same system (a) know the relationship between metric units and for underpinning Functional Mathematics Entry 3: Use metric units in everyday situations. Level 1: Convert units of measure in the same system. Level 2: Use, convert and calculate using metric and, where appropriate, Imperial measures. April 2011. Kindly contributed to www.skillsworkshop.org by Joaquin Llorente, Trafford College.

Conversion of Metric Units April 2011. Kindly contributed to www.skillsworkshop.org by Joaquin Llorente, Trafford College.

The Metric System The International Metric System was developed and introduced in Europe in the times of Napoleon It is based on the decimal numbering system Conversion factors are always powers of 10 (i.e. larger units are 10, 100, 1000 of the base unit and smaller units are 1/10, 1/100, 1/1000 of the base unit)

The seven column table This table and 3 simple rules will be the key to converting between units successfully The middle column, with red borders, will hold the basic unit, metre (m), litre (l) or gram (g) Larger units such as kilometre (km) or kilogram (kg) will go to the left and smaller subunits such as centimetre (cm), millimetre (mm), centilitre (cl), millilitre (ml) or milligram (mg) will go to the right

Metric Units - Distance The base unit for measuring distance is the metre (m) We use metres to measure: The height of a door The length of a corridor The length and width of a room

Metric Units - Distance km m We use kilometres (km) for longer distances, such as: The distance between cities (for example, between Madrid and Barcelona, or Manchester and Leeds) The distance to the next services on the motorway The distance from the Earth to the moon (400 000 km)

Metric Units - Distance km m mm We use millimetres (mm) for very small things: The thickness of a coin The diameter of a screw

Metric Units - Distance km m cm mm We use centimetres (cm) for things like: The width or depth of a washing machine The height of a table The width of a shelf

Metric Units - Distance km m cm mm There are other units in the empty columns, but we rarely see or use their names. These missing units are, from left to right: Hectometre (hm) Decametre (Dm) Decimetre (dm)

Check point 1 How many columns do you need for the Metric Unit Conversion Table? In the Metric System … What is the basic unit for distance? What other metric units for distance do you remember? Can you place them in the table?

Using the 7 column table In the next few slides we are going to see how to use this table to convert between m, km, mm and cm. We will start by writing the original measurement on the table Then we will see how to convert into the desired unit

Convert 32 cm into mm STEP 1 - Write the original measurement into the table 3 2 cm km m cm mm 3 2

Convert 32 cm into mm STEP 2 – Put the decimal point to the right of the target unit 3 2 cm = mm km m cm mm 3 2 .

Convert 32 cm into mm STEP 3 – Fill in with 0s as required 3 2 cm = 320 mm km m cm mm 3 2 .

Examples - STEP 1 Write on the table: 5 m 3 km 27 mm 512 cm 5 3 2 7 5

Place the decimal point: Examples - STEP 2 km m cm mm Place the decimal point: 5 m 3 km 27 mm 512 cm 5 3 7 2 1 . = km . = m . = cm . = m

Examples - STEP 3 Fill any gaps with 0s: 5 m 3 km 27 mm 512 cm 0.005 5 m 3 km 27 mm 512 cm 5 3 7 2 1 . = 0.005 km . 3 000 = m . = 2.7 cm . = 5.12 m

Check point 2 Draw the table and the column headings for distance Use the table to convert the following numbers into cm: 350 m 78 mm 5 km 3 mm

Harder examples - STEP 1 Write on the table: 0.5 m 3.5 km 2.7 cm mm Write on the table: . 5 0.5 m 3 . 3.5 km 5 2 . 7 2.7 cm 51.2 m 5 1 . 2

Move the decimal point: Harder examples - STEP 2 kmkg m g l cm cl mmmg ml Move the decimal point: . 5 0.5 m = cm 3 . 3.5 km mm 5 = 2 . 7 2.7 cm = mm 51.2 m km 5 1 . 2 =

Harder examples - STEP 3 Fill any gaps with 0s: 50 0.5 m = cm 3.5 kg kmkg m g l cm cl mmmg ml Fill any gaps with 0s: 50 5 . 0.5 m = cm 3 . 3.5 kg 3 500 000 mg 5 = 2 7 . 2.7 cl 27 = ml 0.0512 51.2 m km . 5 1 2 =

Check point 3 Use the conversion table to answer these questions: How many cm in 1 m? How many cm in 2 m? How many m in 1km? 1m is the same as _________ km 1mm is the same as __________ m April 2011. Kindly contributed to www.skillsworkshop.org by Joaquin Llorente, Trafford College.