Measures

Before measuring something, you need to know what unit to use. You can do this by estimating its approximate size. For measures such as speed you will use a formula.

Part of

Converting between units

The table shows some of the most common units and their equivalents. Make sure you know these conversions.

Converting measurements
Length
Weight
Capacity

Converting larger units to smaller units

To convert a larger unit to a smaller unit (eg {m} to {cm} ), first check the number of smaller units needed to make {1} larger unit. Then, multiply that number by the number of larger units.

Converting smaller units to larger units

To convert a smaller unit to a larger unit (eg {cm} to {m} ), divide it by the number of smaller units which are needed to make {1} larger unit.

To convert from a larger unit to a smaller one, multiply. To convert from a smaller unit to a larger one, divide.

Example

1~m = 100~cm

So, to convert from {m} to {cm} multiply by 100 , and to convert from {cm} to {m} divide by 100 .

For example:

$3.2~m = 320~cm~(3.2 \times 100 = 320)$

$400~cm = 4~m~(400 \div 100 = 4)$

Question

Convert the following to the units given in brackets:

a) 5,120~g~(kg)

b) 15~cl~(ml)

c) 245~mm~(m)

a) 5.12~kg

Remember that 1~kg = 1,000~g .

To convert from {g} to {kg} , divide by 1,000 .

b) 150~ml

Remember that 1~cl = 10~ml .

To convert from {cl} to {ml} , multiply by .

c) 0.245~m

Remember that 1~m = 1,000~mm .

To convert from {mm} to {m} , divide by 1,000 .