Convert Metric Units of Length
Objective Choose the appropriate unit and
convert between units of metric length.
CA Standards
MG 1.1 Choose the
appropriate tools and units
(metric and U.S.) and estimate
and measure the length, liquid
volume, and weight/mass of
given objects.
MG 1.4 Carry out simple unit
conversions within a system of
measurement (e.g., centimeters
and meters, hours and minutes).
Also AF 1.4, AF 2.0,
KEY AF 2.1 , MG 1.0,
MR 2.0, MR 2.3, MR 2.4,
MR 3.1
In Lesson 3, you learned about measuring to
the nearest millimeter (mm) and centimeter (cm).
You can measure longer lengths in meters (m)
and kilometers (km) .
-ETRIC5NITSOF,ENGTH
CENTIMETERMILLIMETERS
METERCENTIMETERS
KILOMETERMETERS
meter (m)
kilometer (km)
The door to Fran’s house
is about 1 meter wide.
Her house is about
1 kilometer from the
beach. It takes Fran
about 10 minutes to
walk 1 kilometer to
the beach.
Houghton Mifflin California Math, Lesson Transparency 8.4
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Use with Chapter 8, Lesson 4
METER
Choose the unit you would use to measure each.
Write mm, cm, m, or km.
• Do I need a small or
large unit?
• Which is the smaller
unit? the larger unit?
1. how far you can throw a ball
2. distance to the Moon
Choose the better estimate.
3. length of an airplane
a. 70 m
b. 70 km
5. length of a car
a. 5 m
b. 2 km
4. height of a horse
a. 6 m
b. 2 m
6. distance from California
to New York
a. 4,000 m b. 4,000 km
Guided Problem Solving
Use the questions to solve this problem.
7. Diana sailed a 3-kilometer race one
week and a 2,500-meter race the next
week. How many meters did Diana sail
in all?
a. Understand What do you know?
What do you need to find out?
b. Plan Can you add 3 kilometers and
2,500 meters? If not, what should
you do?
c. Solve 3 kilometers =
meters.
meters + 2,500 meters =
meters.
d. Look Back Does your answer make sense?
Why or why not?
Math Talk
Would you measure the distance from
your home to school in meters or kilometers? Explain.
Houghton Mifflin California Math, Lesson Transparency 8.4
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Use with Chapter 8, Lesson 4