Unit Conversion and Line Plots
Aligned to 5.MD.A.1 — Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
What this lesson teaches
Within one measurement system you can convert between units by multiplying or dividing, since each unit is a set number of the next. For example, 1 kilometer is 1000 meters. You can also use a line plot of fractional measurements to answer questions.
Worked examples
Example 1
Convert 3 kilometers to meters. Each kilometer is 1000 meters, so 3 times 1000 equals 3000 meters.
Example 2
Convert 250 centimeters to meters. There are 100 cm in a meter, so 250 ÷ 100 = 2.5 meters.
Example 3
Going from small units to big ones divides, so the number shrinks. 5,000 grams is 5 kilograms, not 5,000,000.
Practice questions
- How many centimeters are in 2 meters?
- Convert 5000 grams to kilograms.
- If line-plot lengths are 1/4, 1/2, and 1/4, what is the total length?
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Conversión de unidades y diagramas de puntos
Dentro de un mismo sistema de medición puedes convertir entre unidades multiplicando o dividiendo, ya que cada unidad equivale a un número fijo de la siguiente. Por ejemplo, 1 kilómetro equivale a 1000 metros. También puedes usar un diagrama de puntos con medidas fraccionarias para responder preguntas.
Ejemplo 1: Convierte 3 kilómetros a metros. Cada kilómetro equivale a 1000 metros, entonces 3 por 1000 es igual a 3000 metros.
Ejemplo 2: Convierte 250 centímetros a metros. Hay 100 cm en un metro, así que 250 ÷ 100 = 2.5 metros.
Ejemplo 3: Pasar de unidades pequeñas a grandes divide, así que el número se achica. 5,000 gramos son 5 kilogramos, no 5,000,000.
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