A tutorial to help you review measuring distance in the metric system.
Benchmark: Use metric measurement devices to
provide consistency in an investigation (I.1.m.4)
Let’s Get Started
Why do I have to learn metric if I live
in the United States? Why not just
measure everything in inches, feet,
yards, and miles?
Answer: Magnum est ut inter sese
colloqui possint periti in scientiae
rebus.
Having trouble understanding the message
above? It is a very simple phrase in Latin.
Please Translate
Translation: It is important that scientists
can communicate with each other.
Scientists around the world have to be able to
communicate with each other. Just as you had
difficulty reading the Latin phrase, imagine what
would happen if every scientist used a different
measuring system. That is why a universal system of
measurement is necessary. This system is the
metric system.
Time to Measure
All measurements during this tutorial will be made in centimeters.
Look at the magnified ruler below. The distance from one tall line to
another is one centimeter (cm). The smaller lines each represent one
millimeter (mm). There are 10 millimeters in one centimeter. Prove
this to yourself by counting the number of millimeters between 0 and 1
(do not count the 0 line, but you do count the 1 line).
Since there are 10 millimeters in one centimeter, each millimeter line
equals 0.1 centimeters.
0
1
2
3
4
.1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9
How many centimeters are shown on the ruler segment
above?
Four
Forty
0
1
2
3
4
There are 4 cm shown on the ruler above
and 40 mm.
I’m ready to move on.
There are 40 mm below. The millimeter
markings are the shorter lines. But there are
only 4 centimeters. The centimeters are
circled.
0
1
2
3
4
Practice Again
How many centimeters are shown on the ruler
segment below?
Eleven
One
0
1
0
1
There is 1 cm shown on the ruler above
and 11 mm.
I’m ready to move on.
There is 1 cm shown on the ruler above
and 11 mm. Remember the smaller lines
are the millimeters.
0
1
Let’s go back and review
We can compare measuring in metric with money. It takes 10
millimeters to equal 1 centimeter. Just like it takes 10 dimes to equal
1 dollar.
On the paperclip below, if you could give yourself 1 dollar for each
full centimeter that the paperclip covers, you would have $3. But
wait, the paperclip goes past the 3 cm mark, so shouldn’t you get
more money?
Yes, give yourself 1 dime for each millimeter beyond the 3 cm. How
much money do you have?
$3 + $0.30 = ?
You should have $3.30
Follow a similar method when measuring in metric. How many full
centimeters long is the paper clip?
3 cm
Now count the number of millimeters beyond the 3 cm mark.
3
Remember a millimeter equals 0.1 cm. Putting it all together,
3 cm + 0.3 cm =
?
The paperclip is 3.3 cm
long. Notice how this
answer compares to your
dollar answer at the top of
this slide.
How long is the domino?
A. 5.1 cm
C. 51 cm
The domino is
5.1 cm long.
How long is the car?
A. 71 cm
B. 7 cm
C. 7.1 cm
The car is 7.1 cm.
You’re ready to
move on.
Next
How tall is the Coke can?
A. 122 cm
B. 12.2 cm
C. 12 cm
The Coke can is 12.2 cm
tall.
One More Practice
How long is the straw?
A. 195 cm
B. 19.1 cm
C. 19.5 cm
The straw is 19.5 cm long. You’re really
good at measuring.
One Last
Practice
Try using the money analogy if that helps you. Give yourself $1 for
each centimeter mark that the domino covers. You would have $5.
It looks like the domino is a little past the 5 cm mark. Give yourself
1 dime for that millimeter. How much money do you have? $5.10
Now do the same thing, but ask yourself about centimeters and
millimeters. How many full centimeters long the domino is. 5
Count the number of millimeters beyond the 5. How long is the
domino?
Try Again
The car is not 71 cm long. Decide how many full centimeters long
the car is. Write this number in front of the decimal.
7.____cm
Now count the millimeters after the 7. Remember, a millimeter is
equal to 0.1 cm. So the number of millimeters you count goes
behind the decimal point.
.1cm
Your final answer is 7.1 cm.
Another Practice
Please
Remember to count the number of millimeter
markings after the 7 cm line.
Try Again
How wide is the disk?
A. 9.4 cm
B. 9.5 cm
C. 9 cm
The disk is 9.4 cm.
Next
Be careful. The slightly longer line between 9 cm
and 10 cm represents 5 millimeters or 0.5 cm. If the
disk is one millimeter before 0.5 cm, how long must
the disk be? You can also re-count all of the
millimeter markings after the 9 until you get to the
end of the disk.
Try Again
It appears that the disk extends beyond the 9. Use
the black horizontal line, that indicates the end of the
disk, as a reference.
Try Again
The Coke can is 122 millimeters
tall, not 122 cm. But remember
we are making all measurements
in centimeters.
How many full centimeters tall is
the can? That number goes in
front of the decimal.
12.__cm
How many millimeters beyond the
12 cm mark does the can extend?
.2cm
Put it all together, and try again.
Try Again
Look again. Are you sure it is
exactly 12.0 cm, or does the can
extend a few millimeters after the
12 cm mark?
Try Again
Remember your answer should have the general form of ____ ____ . ____
cm.
The numbers to the left of the decimal represent centimeters (just as it
would represent dollars if we were talking about money) and the number
to the right of the decimal represents the smaller millimeters (just like
dimes in money).
Try Again
Notice the slightly larger millimeter line between the 19 cm and 20
cm. This line represents 0.5 cm. If you count the millimeters after
19, you will count 5 when you reach that line. 0.5 cm marks are
slightly longer to make reading the ruler a little easier.
Try Again
A meter stick is used to measure a floor tile. In centimeters, how long
is the tile (include the grout line between tiles)?
A. 96.5 cm
B. 96.1 cm
C. 96.0 cm
Challenge Me
You chose 96.1 cm which is the measurement
shown by the purple arrow. The tile with grout
extends to the yellow line.
Try Again
Are you sure the tile and grout ends at exactly 96 cm?
The purple line represents the distance you are
measuring.
Try Again
What measurement is indicated by arrow on the
ruler segment below?
A. 4.0 cm
B. 0.4 cm
0
1
C. 4.4 cm
You knew exactly what to do. The arrow does
represent 0.4 cm.
0
1
I’m Ready for the
Test
Follow the same pattern as we’ve done in all of the
previous measurements.
How many full centimeters to get to the arrow? In this
case the answer is 0 cm. The arrow is not to the 1 cm
mark. So we write 0.___cm
Now count the number of millimeter marks to the
arrow. You should count 4. So we write 0.4 cm. If you
were receiving money for this measurement, how much
would you have? A dime for a millimeter.
$0.40
0
1
.1 .2 .3 .4
Another Practice
Please
You chose 4.4 cm. The orange arrow on the ruler
segment below is pointing to 4.4 cm.
0
1
2
3
4
Below is the line segment you were given. What
number should be to the left of the decimal?
0
1
Try Again
What measurement is indicated by arrow on the
ruler segment below?
A. 7.0 cm
B. 0.2 cm
0
C. 0.7 cm
1
The arrow does point to 0.7 cm.
0
1
I’m Ready for
the Test
Look carefully, is 7 cm shown on the ruler segment?
No the ruler is only showing up to 1 cm, and the
arrow is not to the 1. So we must write a 0.__cm
If you count the millimeter lines, there are 7 to get to
the arrow. Is that why you chose 7cm? But those
lines represent 0.1 cm each. So, what would the
correct answer be?
0
1
.1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9
Try Again
Remember the slightly taller line between the 0 cm
and 1 cm represents 0.5 cm, and is taller to help
read the ruler.
If the purple arrow is two lines after the 0.5 cm line,
what measurement must it be indicating?
0
1
.5
Try Again
Time to Show What You Know
1. How long is the keyboard?
A. 45 cm
B. 45.5 cm
C. 50cm
Next
Question
Oops
Not the right measurement.
Try Again
2. What measurement is indicated by the purple arrow?
A. 3.6 cm
B. 36 cm
0
1
2
C. 3.1 cm
3
4
Next
Question
Oops
Not the right measurement.
Try Again
3. How wide is the outdoor chair?
A. 89 cm
B. 82. 8 cm
C. 82.3 cm
Next
Question
Oops
Not the right measurement.
Try Again
4. What measurement is indicated by the purple arrow?
A. 2 cm
B. 0.7 cm
0
1
2
C. 0.2 cm
3
4
Next
Question
Oops
Not the right measurement.
Try Again
4. What measurement is indicated by the purple arrow?
A. 0.9 cm
B. 9 cm
0
1
C. 1.1 cm
2
3
4
Oops
Not the right measurement.
Try Again
You Have Finished This Tutorial
Being able to accurately measure is an important science skill. This
skill will be necessary for later concepts such as finding the area in
order to calculate pressure, finding volume in order to calculate
density, and measuring distance to calculate speed.
Resources
All clipart and sounds during slide transitions from:
Microsoft Office Online. 19 Apr. 2007 <http://office.microsoft.com/enus/clipart/FX101321031033.aspx?pid=CL100570201033>.