Select and use appropriate tools to measure attributes of objects.
Convert within a single system of measurement using the units: yards, feet, inches; kilometers, meters, centimeters, millimeters; pounds, ounces; kilograms, grams; gallons, quarts, pints, cups; liter, milliliter; and hours, minutes, seconds.
- Think about the conversion factor.
- Consider the relative sizes of the units. Which is bigger? Which is smaller?
- Use multiplication or division to determine your final answer, or use a table.
- Quarts are smaller than gallons, so that means I will ned more than 2 quarts to equal these 2 gallons.
- The conversion factor is 2 quarts = 1 gallon.
- I need 2 quarts to equal my first gallon, and 2 quarts to equal my second gallon. That's 4 quarts!
- Gallons are bigger than quarts, so that means I will need fewer than 4 gallons to equal these 4 quarts.
- The conversion factor is 1 gallon = 2 quarts.
- I need 1 gallon for every 2 quarts. I need 1 gallon to equal my first 2 quarts, and I need 1 more gallon to equal my second 2 quarts. That's 2 gallons in total!
Making a conversion table can help show the relationships between units, and the patterns that emerge. This can be a great strategy for students who are not ready to do conversions.