Focus

Math 10C Module 1 Lesson 3 This collage shows a photograph of a couple examining a blueprint and a photograph of a model of a house.

Many young people dream of the time when they will plan and build their own house and make it their own place. Moving from planning blueprints to the construction stage is one time when measurement conversion becomes important. Measurements are critical to a successful construction process.

Using referents, or relating measures to common objects, allows you to estimate measurements quickly. Would it be appropriate to construct a house using referents only?

In the last lesson you focused on how to take the measurements of various shapes. In this lesson you will learn how to perform measurement conversions within each the SI and the imperial system. You will also learn how to perform measurement conversions between the SI and the imperial system.

You will begin the lesson by estimating using body parts as referents. Then you will use ratios and proportion to solve problems. You will answer questions like the following:

  • How many inches are there in a foot?

  • How many millimetres are there in 10 cm?

  • How do you convert kilometres to miles?

Outcomes

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to

  • explain how proportional reasoning can be used to convert a measurement within or between the SI and the imperial system

  • solve a problem that involves the conversion of units

  • verify, using unit analysis, a conversion within or between the SI and the imperial system and explain the conversion

  • justify, using mental mathematics, the reasonableness of a solution to a conversion problem

Lesson Questions

  • How do the strategies for converting units in the SI compare with those used in the imperial system?

  • When can proportions be used to solve problems?

Lesson Completion and Assessment

As you work through each lesson, complete all the questions and learning activities in your binder using paper and pencil, clearly labeling your work (they refer to this as your course folder). These include the Are you Ready, Try This, Share and Self Check questions. Check your work if answers are provided. Remember that these questions provide you with the practice and feedback that you need to successfully complete this course.
Once you have completed all of the learning activities, take the Lesson Quiz. This is the assessment for each lesson and is located under the Assess tab or using the Quizzes link under the Activities block.

** Note – Share questions may have to be done on your own depending on your learning situation**