Applying the Metric and Imperial Systems of Measurement

Applying the Metric and Imperial Systems of Measurement

Systems of measurement are used to measure the length, volume, mass or temperature of an object.

The Metric System
Canada and most other countries of the world use the metric system of measurement.
Using the metric system, fill in the main unit of measure for each category:

Length: Millimetre Volume: Litres Mass: Kilogram Temp: Celsius

Some of the commonly used units and conversions in the metric system are as follows:
Length Volume Mass
10 mm = 1 cm 1000 mL = 1 L 1000 g = 1 kg
100 cm = 1 m 1000 kg = 1 t
1000 m = 1 km
1. If a wall is measured to be 450 cm long, what is the measurement in metres (m)?

4.5 metres


2. If a container has a volume of 2.6 L, what is the volume in millilitres (mL) ?

2600 mL


3. Consider the following examples of objects that could be measured. Match the examples with the most appropriate unit of measurement by drawing lines between them.

Column A Column B

Volume of a cooler 170 cm

Mass of an average person 22º C

Temperature inside a room 10 mm

Thickness of a magazine 75 Kg

Height of an average person 20 L

Distance around a running track 400 m




Applying the Metric and Imperial Systems of Measurement

The Imperial System
Some other countries, particularly the United States, use a different system of measurement called the imperial system. Although it is not recognized as Canada’s main system of measurement, why is it still important for us to be able to understand and work with the imperial system?





In the case of the imperial system, fill in at least one example of a unit of measure for each category:

Length: inch Volume: pint Mass: pound Temperature: Fahrenheit

Some of the commonly used units and conversions in the imperial system are as follows:
Length Volume Mass
12 inches = 1 foot 16 fluid ounces = 1 pint 16 ounces = 1 pound
3 feet = 1 yard 2 pints = 1 quart 2000 pounds = 1 ton (US)
1760 yards = 1 mile 8 pints = 1 gallon
4. If a wall is measured to be 144 inches long, what is the measurement in feet?

17.28 ft


5. If a container has a volume of 6 quarts, what is the volume in pints?

12 pints


6. Consider the following examples of objects that could be measured. Match the examples with the most appropriate unit of measurement by drawing lines between them.
Column A Column B

Volume of a cooler ½ in. (inches)

Mass of an average person 5’10” (5 feet, 10 inches)

Temperature inside a room 5 gal (gallons)

Thickness of a magazine 175 lb. (pounds)

Height of an average person 200 yd. (yards)

Distance around a running track 72º F
Converting between the Metric and Imperial Systems

The following are approximate conversions between commonly used metric and imperial measurements:
Length Volume Mass

30.48 cm = 1 foot 29.574 mL = 1 fluid ounce 28.35 g = 1 ounce
2.54 cm = 1 inch 0.473 L = 1 pint 0.454 kg = 1 pound
1.6 km = 1 mile 3.785 L = 1 gallon 0.907 t = 1 ton (US)
1m = 3.28 feet

Temperature: Farenheit to Celcius { }
Celcius to Farehneit { }

7. If a wall is measured to be 14 feet long, what is the measurement in cm?


426.72 cm



8. If a container has a volume of 4 L, what is the volume in gallons?


1.06 gallons























Conversions

1. Convert the following metric measures:

a) 2400 m = 2.4 km
b) 34 cm = 340 mm
c) 5 L = 5000 mL
d) 3200 g = 3.2 kg

2. Convert the following imperial measures:
a) 4 pounds = 64 ounces
b) 6.5 quarts = 13 pints
c) 42 inches = 3.5 feet
d) 3 miles = 5280 yards

3. Convert the following metric and imperial measures:
a) 36 inches = 91.44cm
b) 40 km = 24.9 miles
c) 10 gallon = 37.85 L
d) 140 g = 4.94 ounce
4. Estimate the following measures using an appropriate unit of measure:
a) the length of your foot: 20 cm
b) the volume of a carton of milk: 1 L
c) the height of the classroom: 10 ft
d) the width of your thumbnail: 15 mm

5. Jesse needs to order flooring for his room. He measured the dimensions of the room to be 300 cm by 375 cm. However, the flooring company needs to know these dimensions in feet. Find the dimensions of the room in feet.
10 ft by 12.5 ft

6. A square room has area 49m2. What is the area in square feet?
527.2 square ft

7. **A cube has volume 1000 cubic feet. What is the volume in cubic metres? If one cubic cm is equal to one mL, what is the volume of this cube in litres?
28.3 cubic metres

Answers:

a) 2.4 km b) 340 mm c) 5000 mL d) 3.2 kg
a) 64 ounces b) 13 pints c) 3.5 feet d) 5280 yards
a) 91.44 cm b) 24.9 miles c) 37.85 L d) 4.94 ounces
a) 20 cm (will vary) b) 1 L (will vary) c) 10 feet (will vary) d) 15 mm (will vary)
10 feet by 12.5 feet
527.2 square feet
28.3 cubic metres, 28,300 L