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2.2: Units of Measurement

  • Page ID
    50987
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    How Common Core Changed Word Problems

    Before the mathematicians wrote Common Core, they sat down with Physicists and asked what they would want from Math Teachers: The number one response was UNITS! Students who take physics are notorious for leaving off the units from their answers. Therefore, Common Core made learning units a standard, for grades one through five:

    Common Core standards for Units

    • Grade 1: Measure lengths indirectly and by iterating length units.
    • Grade 2: Measure and estimate lengths in standard units.
    • Grade 3: Measure and estimate liquid volumes and masses of objects using standard units of grams \((\mathrm{g}),\) kilograms \((\mathrm{kg}),\) and liters \((\mathrm{L})\). Add, subtract, multiply, or divide to solve one-step word problems involving masses or volumes that are given in the same units, e.g., by using drawings (such as a beaker with a measurement scale) to represent the problem.
    • Grade 4: Know relative sizes of measurement units within one system of units including \(\mathrm{km}, \mathrm{m}, \mathrm{cm} ; \mathrm{kg}, \mathrm{g} ; \mathrm{Ib}, \mathrm{oz} . ; \mathrm{I}, \mathrm{ml} ; \mathrm{hr}, \mathrm{min},\) sec. Within a single system of measurement, express measurements in a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit. Record measurement equivalents in a two-column table. For example, know that \(1 \mathrm{ft}\). is 12 times as long as 1 in. Express the length of a 4 ft. snake as 48 in. Generate a conversion table for feet and inches listing the number pairs \((1,12),(2,24),(3,36), \ldots\)
    • Grade 5: Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system (e.g., convert \(5 \mathrm{cm}\) to \(0.05 \mathrm{m}\) ), and use these conversions in solving multi-step, real world problems.

    Mathematical Practices for Teachers 6: Attend to Precision \((\) Did 1 Label My Answer?)

    Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Table 2.2.1: Physical quantity and Units

    Type

    Units

    Height (how tall?)

    Feet, meters, miles, yards, etc

    Weight (how much?)

    Pounds, kilograms, ounces, liters, quarts, etc

    Speed (how fast?)

    Miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (kph) and feet per second (f/s or fps)

    Temperature (how hot?)

    Celsius \(C^{\circ }\) and Fahrenheit \(F^{\circ }\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Table 2.2.2: Quantity versus Quality

    Quantifiable (Measureable units)

    Qualitative (Descriptive Units)

    Feet

    Feelings

    Gallons

    Colors

    Miles per Hour

    Opinions

    Weight

    Taste

    Money

    Sound

    Asking about something about a large group of people

    Asking about something just about yourself

    Practice Problems

    Use Google to help you answer these questions:

    1. How tall is the Eiffel Tower?
    2. What is the average weight of a newborn baby?
    3. What is the wealth of America?

    This page titled 2.2: Units of Measurement is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Amy Lagusker.

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