Measurement & Units
Length, mass, capacity, time and unit conversions
Metric Unit Conversions
| Length | Mass | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 km = 1000 m | 1 t = 1000 kg | 1 L = 1000 mL |
| 1 m = 100 cm | 1 kg = 1000 g | 1 kL = 1000 L |
| 1 cm = 10 mm | 1 g = 1000 mg |
To convert to a smaller unit: multiply | To convert to a larger unit: divide
Example: 3.5 km = 3.5 × 1000 = 3500 m
450 cm = 450 ÷ 100 = 4.5 m
Time
| Time Conversions | |
|---|---|
| 1 minute = 60 seconds | 1 hour = 60 minutes |
| 1 day = 24 hours | 1 week = 7 days |
| 1 year = 365 days | 1 leap year = 366 days |
12-hour vs 24-hour time: 3:45 pm = 15:45 | 11:30 pm = 23:30
Duration Problems
Find elapsed time by subtracting start from finish, borrowing 60 seconds/minutes as needed.
Example: A movie starts at 7:45 pm and ends at 10:10 pm.
Duration = 10:10 − 7:45 = 2 hours 25 minutes
Mixed Units
Make sure all lengths are in the same unit before calculating perimeter or area.
Example: A rectangle 2 m × 80 cm → convert to 2 m × 0.8 m → Perimeter = 2(2 + 0.8) = 5.6 m
Key Tips
- Always write the unit in your answer
- For combined unit problems, convert everything to the same unit first
- Know the common conversion factors by heart — they come up frequently
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How many grams are there in 1 kilogram?
Show answer
Answer: 1000
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How many metres are there in 1 kilometre?
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Answer: 1000
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Convert 3.5 km to metres.
Show answer
Answer: 3,500 m
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A jug holds 1.2 litres. How many 150 mL cups can be filled from it?
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Answer: 8
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