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Solve Multi-Step Problems Using Measurement Conversions

Students apply their knowledge of measurement conversions to solve multi-step, real-world problems. They determine which units to convert, perform conversions, and use the results in further calculations.

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Solve Multi-Step Problems Using Measurement Conversions

Grade 5 · Measurement Conversions · question 1 of 3

0 of 20

20 rungs. A star at the top.

cm = 5 km

How it is taught

0:00 of 4:00

You cannot add measurements until the units match.

Convert first, then finish the other steps.

Read it: Find the factor, then convert

1 gallon is 4 quarts, so 2 gallons are 8 quarts and 3 gallons are 12 quarts. The quarts row is the gallons row times 4: 6 gallons are 6 × 4 = 24 quarts.

  1. Find the factor: how many quarts make 1 gallon. Here it is 4.
  2. From a big unit to a small one there are more of them, so multiply by the factor.
  3. From a small unit to a big one there are fewer, so divide: 24 quarts ÷ 4 = 6 gallons.

A gallon holds more than a quart, so it takes 4 quarts to hold as much as 1 gallon.

Each gallon more adds 4 quarts more, so every column of the table is times 4.

Two steps work the same way: 1 gallon is 4 quarts and 1 quart is 4 cups, so 1 gallon is 4 × 4 = 16 cups.

To change to the smaller unit, multiply by the factor; to change to the bigger unit, divide by it.

Adding the factor instead of multiplying, and saying 2 gallons are 2 + 4 = 6 quarts.

Every gallon is 4 quarts, so 2 gallons are 2 × 4 = 8 quarts.

15 gallons = ___ cups — 240. Every gallon is 16 cups, so 15 of them is 15 times 16: 240.

1500 m + 2 km = ? m

Sam ran fifteen hundred meters in the morning, then two kilometers in the afternoon. How far did he run in all — in meters?

Look closely. One number is in meters, the other is in kilometers. We can't add them yet — the units don't match.

Step one: convert the kilometers into meters. Then step two: add them together.

Here's the rule we need: one kilometer equals one thousand meters.

1500 m + 2 km = ? mDifferent units — can't add yet!Step 1: convert km → mStep 2: add the meters2 km = ? m1 km = 1000 m2 × 1000 = 2000 m2 km = 2000 m ✓1500 + 2000 = ?1500 + 2000 = 3500ANSWER3500meters total
Grade 5 · Sam ran 1500 m, then 2 km — how far in all?

So two kilometers is two times one thousand — that's two thousand meters.

Now both numbers are in meters. Step two: add fifteen hundred plus two thousand.

Fifteen hundred plus two thousand is three thousand five hundred.

Sam ran three thousand five hundred meters in all. Two steps: convert first, then calculate. Nice work!

What you see

While they climb, your page writes one true line to ask about tonight, and a short note each Sunday.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics
Did you know?

A chessboard has 64 squares — share them out between the 8 rows and each row holds exactly 8.

Today’s goal
1 star — one skill mastered, every rung of its ladder climbed
Climbing now
Divide within 100

An example student.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Maya earned 2 stars this week — Interpret multiplication as equal groups, which took 6 answers over 3 days before its star landed 3 days ago and Multiply by 6, 7, 8 and 9. Next up: Divide within 100.

An example week.

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