My experience from teaching mathematics has shown me that most secondary school students doesnt know or do ignore important basics of mathematics. Converting metric units has been a struggle to most children. Even at college and university levels students may not be aware of the units for distances, length, area, volume ,weight and others and converting them. The knowledge of these serves as a foundation of understanding mathematics/statistics. The following tips are most important:
The commonly used metric units in secondary schools, college and university mathematics or statistics and other areas are as follows:
DISTANCE + LENGTH
1 mile (m) = 1.609344 kilometers (km)
1 kilometer (km) = 1000 meters (m)
1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm) = 1000mm
1 foot (ft) = 12 inches (in) = 30cm
1 yard (yd) = 3 feet (ft)
1 decimeter (dm) = 10 centimeters (cm)
1 centimeter (cm) = 10 millimeters (mm)
1 meter = 39 inches
Note that:
CONVERTING FROM SMALL UNITS TO LARGE UNITS WE DIVIDE
CONVERTING FROM LARGE UNITS TO SMALL UNITS WE MULTIPLY
Example: Convert 2000 meters (m) to kilometers
In this case Meters are smaller than Kilometers.
Thats means we have to divide by the number of meters in a kilometer.
The number is 1000
Therfore 2000 divide by 1000 = 2km
Example: Convert 10 centimeters (cm) to millimeters (mm)
In this case Centimeter (cm) is larger than Millimeter (mm)
That means we have to multiply by the number of Millimeters (mm)in a Centimeter (cm)
The number is 10
Therefore 10 multiply by 10 = 100
AREA
1 Hectar = 100 ares = 2.471 acres
1 acre = 4 840 sq.yd ( square yard)
1 are = 119.6 sq.yd = 100 square meters
1 square mile = 640 acres
1 square kilometer = 100 hectars
1 square meter = 10 000 sq.cm (square centimeter)
1 square yard = 9 sq.ft (square feet)
1 squre foot = 144sq.in (square inch)
Remember:
CONVERTING FROM SMALL UNITS TO LARGE UNITS WE DIVIDE
CONVERTING FROM LARGE UNITS TO SMALL UNITS WE MULTIPLY
Example:
Convert 2500 acres to square miles
An Acre is smaller than a Square mile
That means we divide by the number of acres in a square mile
The number is 640
Therefore 2500 divide by 640 = 3.90625
Example:
Convert 4 Hectars to Ares to Ares
A Hectar is larger than an Are
That means we multiply by the number of Ares in a Hectar
Therefore 4 multiply by 100 = 400
VOLUME
1 cubic meter (cu.m) = 1000 litres
1 Gallon = 4.5 litres
1 Litre = 1000 Millilitres = 1 3/4 pints
1 pint = 1/8 of a gallon
1 gallon = 4.5 litres
1 quart = 2 pints
1 kilolitre = 1000 litres
1 decalitre = 10 litres = 2.20 gallons
1 hectolitre = 100 Litres
1 centilitre = 10 millilitres
Remember:
CONVERTING FROM SMALL UNITS TO LARGE UNITS WE DIVIDE
CONVERTING FROM LARGE UNITS TO SMALL UNITS WE MULTIPLY
See examples above
WEIGHT
1 Tone = 1000 kilograms (kg)
1 Kilogram = 1000 grams (g) = 2.2 pounds
1 Gram = 1000 milligrams (mg) = 15.43 grains
1 Milligram = 0.015 grains
1 stone = 14 pounds
1 pound = 16 ouncies
2.2 pounds = 1 kilogram
1 ounce = 25 grams = 16 drams
1 Dram = 1.1772 grams
1 centigram = 10 milligrammes (mg)
1 decagram = 10 grams = 5.64 drams
1 hectogram = 100 grams
1 inch = 2.5centimeters
When converting please note:
CONVERTING FROM SMALL UNITS TO LARGE UNITS WE DIVIDE
CONVERTING FROM LARGE UNITS TO SMALL UNITS WE MULTIPLY
See above examples
TIME
1 year = 365 days
1 leap year = 366 days
1 quarter = 3 months
1 year = 12 months
1 day = 24 hours
1 minute = 60 seconds
1 hour = 60 minutes
1 week = 7 days
1 month = 30/31/28/29 days
NB:
CONVERTING FROM SMALL UNITS TO LARGE UNITS WE DIVIDE
CONVERTING FROM LARGE UNITS TO SMALL UNITS WE MULTIPLY
See above for examples