Convert to Larger Units of Measurement

This activity is about converting measurements into larger units.

Things we need to know:

g = grams

kg = kilograms

km - kilometres

m = metres

cm = centimetres

There are 1,000 grams in 1 kilogram.

To convert grams to kilograms, divide by 1,000

There are 1,000 metres in a kilometre.

To convert metres to kilometres, divide by 1,000

There are 100 centimetres in one metre.

To convert centimetres to metres, divide by 100  (watch out for this one - we divide by 100, not 1,000)

Top Tips:

When dividing by 100, each digit moves 2 places to the right.

When dividing by 1,000, each digit moves 3 places to the right.

Decimal points do not move!

Let's have a go:

Convert 600 cm to m

We know that there are 100 cm in 1 m so we need to divide 600 by 100

600 ÷ 100 = 6 m (we must remember to add the correct unit of measure)

Here's another example:

5,500 m = _________ km

To convert metres to kilometres, we need to divide by 1,000

When we divide 5,500 by 1,000 we move 3 places to the right.

Remember to add a decimal point.   (Imagine that there is a decimal point at the end of the number 4,500 - we don't show it if there isn't a digit after it! )

 5,500 ÷ 1,000 = 5.5 (not 55)

Are you ready to give this a go?