3.2 Measure, measuring and
measurements
 Draw lines to the nearest mm
 Recognise metric units of measure and know how to convert between metric units
 Solve simple problems involving units of measure
 Draw diagrams to scale
Why learn this?
Knowing how to meas
ure
accurately can be very
important for safety.
For example, building
a
rollercoaster.
Super fact!
Turn your head
to the left and stre
tch out
your right arm. Th
 Metric units of mass are g, kg. Level 4
e distance
between the tip of
 Metric units of capacity are ml, cl, l. Level 4
your nose
and your outstretc
hed fingers
 Changing to a smaller unit means more of them, so multiply.
is approximately
Changing to a larger unit means fewer of them, so divide. Level 4
1 metre!
 When solving problems, change all the measurements to the same units. Level 5
 Metric units of length are mm, cm, m, km. Level 4
 A scale tells you how a measurement on a diagram relates to one in real life.
1 : 10 means 1 cm on a diagram and represents 10 cm in real life. Level 6
Level 4
Draw lines measuring:
a) 6.5 cm b) 8.2 cm c) 37 mm
I can draw lines
to the nearest
millimetre
Write the most suitable metric units. The first one is done for you.
a) I would use metres to measure the length of a football field.
b) I would use
to measure the length of my pencil.
c) I would use
to measure the mass of an apple.
d) I would use
to measure the capacity of a car fuel tank.
Choose a suitable unit for each statement.
a) A daffodil is 500
tall .
b) The glass contains 180
of lemonade.
c) The mass of a tin of beans is 450
.
Convert these quantities into the units given. The first one is done for you.
a) 6 km = 6 × 1000 m = 6000 m
b) 672 mm =
cm
c) 4500g =
kg
d) 4.6 kg =
g
e) 2.5 litres =
cl
f) 33 cl =
ml
A lift in a block of flats has this sign:
MAXIMUM LOAD
200 KG
A/w aw_3201 Family with
weights labelled: 80 kg, 66 kg,
41 kg and 34 kg
I can choose
suitable metric
units
I can convert
between metric
units
Level 5
Can this family use the lift together?
KS3 Maths 2008
length: millimetre (mm), centimetre (cm), metre (m), kilometre (km)
I can solve
problems
involving mass
A team of four runners is taking part in a 5 km cross-country relay race.
Each runner runs the same distance. How many metres does each runner do?
A shop window uses large equilateral triangles made of wire to mount a display.
Each triangle uses 4.2 m of wire.
a) How long is one side of a triangle?
b) A reel holds 50 metres of wire. How many complete triangles does this make?
c) How many centimetres of wire are left over?
For each journey:
• choose scale A, B or C
• draw a straight line to represent the journey 0
• give a reason for your choice of scale.
The plan shows part
of a jeweller’s shop.
The scale is 1 : 50.
Display board
a) Oxford to Cambridge 134 km
b) York to Plymouth 540 km
c) Penzance to Aberdeen 1130 km
d) Gloucester to Hereford 52 km
er
unt
Co
Glass
case
400km
B
Window
I can select and
use sensible
scales
100km
C
0
I can solve
problems
involving length
Level 6
A
0
Level 5
20km
Door
Glass
case
I can draw
diagrams to
scale
Glass
case
a) What are the real measurements, in metres, of the:
i) length of the display board ii) length of a glass case iii) width of the door
b) The real height of a glass case is 120 cm. Draw a line to represent this
height using the same scale.
c) Measure your exercise book accurately. Draw three scale diagrams of the
book using three different scales of your choice. Explain in what situation
each scale diagram might be used.
Tip
A
B
Longer or heavier?
Work with a partner.
Together choose two similar-looking items to weigh or measure and
compare, e.g. a shoe each, a pencil each, a book each… First estimate the
weight or length, and then weigh or measure. The person with the heavier or
longer item scores one point.
Repeat for four different sets of items. Who has more points?
Design a maths drawer
Think of all the equipment that you use in a maths lesson, e.g. pens, pencils,
rulers, rubber, protractor, compass, calculator... Design a tray to hold all
these items tidily in a drawer 45 cm square. Draw a scale diagram of your
design. Label the individual sections.
mass: gram (g), kilogram (kg)
capacity: millilitre (ml), centilitre (cl), litre (l)
Always give
units with your
answer.
Watch out!
The letter m
is sometimes used to
stand for ‘miles’ as well
as ‘metres’.
Measure, measuring
and measurements