This lesson discusses converting between different units of measurement using conversion ratios. It provides examples of converting between feet and inches, grams and kilograms, and cups and quarts. Students are asked to complete exercises converting between various units using ratios and then solve word problems applying the conversions. Conversion charts with common unit ratios are also included.

1. Lesson 21
NYS COMMON CORE MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM
6•1
Lesson 21:Getting the Job Done—Speed, Work, and
Measurement Units
Conversion tables contain ratios that can be used to convert units of length, weight or capacity. You must multiply the
given number by the ratio that compares the two units.
Classwork
Exercise 1
Identify the ratios that are associated with conversions between feet, inches, and yards.
inches = foot; the ratio of inches to feet is .
foot = inches; the ratio of feet to inches is .
feet = yard; the ratio of feet to yards is .
yard = feet; the ratio of yards to feet is .
Exercise 2
Work with your partner to find out how many feet are in
Use the conversion rate of
inches per foot, or
Lesson 21:
Date:
©2013CommonCore,Inc. Some rights reserved.commoncore.org
inches. Make a ratio table that compares feet and inches.
foot per inch.
Getting the Job Done—Speed, Work, and Measurement Units
10/31/13
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
S.92

2. Lesson 21
NYS COMMON CORE MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM
6•1
Exercise 3
How many grams are in kilograms? Again, make a record of your work before using the calculator. The rate would be
grams per kg. The unit rate would be
.
Example 1
How many cups are in
quarts? As always, make a record of your work before using the calculator.
Lesson 21:
Date:
©2013CommonCore,Inc. Some rights reserved.commoncore.org
Getting the Job Done—Speed, Work, and Measurement Units
10/31/13
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
S.93

3. Lesson 21
NYS COMMON CORE MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM
6•1
Example 2
How many quarts are in
cups?
Lesson 21:
Date:
©2013CommonCore,Inc. Some rights reserved.commoncore.org
Getting the Job Done—Speed, Work, and Measurement Units
10/31/13
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
S.94

4. Lesson 21
NYS COMMON CORE MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM
U.S. Customary Length
Conversion
Inch (in.)
in. =
Foot (ft.)
ft. =
in.
yd. = ft.
yd. =
in.
mi. =
yd.
mi. =
ft.
Yard (yd.)
Mile (mi.)
U.S. Customary Weight
Pound (lb.)
Ton (T.)
6•1
ft.
Conversion
lb. =
oz.
T. =
lb.
U.S. Customary Capacity
Cup (c.)
Pint (pt.)
Quart (qt.)
Gallon (gal.)
Lesson 21:
Date:
©2013CommonCore,Inc. Some rights reserved.commoncore.org
c. =
pt. =
qt. =
qt. =
qt. =
gal. =
gal. =
gal. =
gal. =
Conversion
fluid ounces
c.
c.
pt.
fluid ounces
qt.
pt.
c.
fluid ounces
Metric Length
Centimeter (cm)
Meter (m)
Kilometer (km)
Conversion
cm =
mm
m =
cm
m =
mm
km =
m
Metric Capacity
Liter (L)
Kiloliter
Conversion
L=
ml
kL =
L
Metric Mass
Gram (g)
Kilogram (kg)
Conversion
g=
mg
kg =
g
Getting the Job Done—Speed, Work, and Measurement Units
10/31/13
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
S.95

5. Lesson 21
NYS COMMON CORE MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM
6•1
Lesson Summary
Conversion tables contain ratios that can be used to convert units of length, weight, or capacity. You must multiply
the given number by the ratio that compares the two units.
Problem Set
1.
7 ft. = in.
2.
100 yd. = ft.
3.
25 m = cm
4.
5 km = m
5.
96 oz. = lb.
6.
2 mi. = ft.
7.
2 mi. = yd.
8.
32 fl. oz. = c.
9.
1,500 ml = l
10. 6 g = mg
11. Beau buys a 3 pound bag of trail mix for a hike. He wants to make one-ounce bags for his friends with whom he is
hiking. How many one-ounce bags can he make?
12. The maximum weight for a truck on the New York State Thruway is 40 tons. How many pounds is this?
13. Claudia’s skis are 150 centimeters long. How many meters is this?
14. Claudia’s skis are 150 centimeters long. How many millimeters is this?
15. Write your own problem and solve it. Be ready to share the question tomorrow.
Lesson 21:
Date:
©2013CommonCore,Inc. Some rights reserved.commoncore.org
Getting the Job Done—Speed, Work, and Measurement Units
10/31/13
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
S.96