My Math Project

Converting Metric Units to Solve Word Problems

We use different units for different things.

For Example:

For petrol we measure it in litres (l) and it goes in the ‘capacity’

category.

If we want to measure how wide the road is, we would use metres

(m). NOT MILLIMETRES!It’s too tiny.

If I want to weigh how heavy a this book is, what unit of

measurement would I use?Which category would it go in?

Capacity/mass/length?

For a book we use grams (g).It is in the ‘mass’ category.

Now Let’s Do Some Converting

Metric Units Of Measurement Chart

Questions

Julie has 17.5 dm (decimetres) of ribbon. For dancing she only

needs 69 cm of ribbon, so she cuts 69 cm off. How many

centimetres of ribbon does she have left?

HOW?

1a. Convert the decimetres to centimetres.To do this multiply 17.5 by 10. Move the digits one place value forward. 17.5 to 175cm1b. Another way of doing it is to move the decimal place one space to the right, because you want to multiply it by 10.17.5175 cm

Just to make sure:

*Remember BLU & LBD.

LBD

Little Big Down

When you convert little units to big units the number goes down. For example: convert 23500m to km =23.5km. Same goes with other conversions such as : kg-Mg, mm-

cm, hl-dal…

BLU

Big Little Up

When you convert big units to small ones – as in km – m, m-cm, dm-cm, Mg-hg, dal (dekalitre)- ml..- the number goes up.

Just like when we converted 17.5dm to cm.

We got 175cm, the number went up.

Step 22. Remember that Julie cuts off 69cm. So you simply subtract 69cm off 175cm. 175 - 69 ------- 106cm.Yes you got it! The answer is 106cm.

Now Try These!

Miss. Rasborn had 4.7dal (dekalitres) of tea in her super-sized cup. She drank 6 litres. How much does she have

left?Remember that 10l=1 dl

2. A house weighs 6.77 Mg (megagrams). How much does it weigh in hg (hectograms)?

Remember that 1 Mg = 10000hg

Answers

1. 46 litres2. 67700 hectograms

Did you get it right?

Thank you for watching!