SME
Grade 4 Math · Measurement & Data
Convert units of measure
Use this for “How many inches are in 3 feet?” and other changes from a bigger unit to a smaller one.
Table
1 foot = 12 inches
Bigger units
Smaller units
This is an example. Type your own values to start a new problem.
Bigger units
×
Smaller units in 1 bigger unit
=
Smaller units
Formulas
3 × 12 = 36
Bigger units × smaller units in 1 bigger unit = smaller units
Assumptions
•
A bigger unit is a fixed number of smaller units: 1 foot = 12 inches, 1 hour = 60 minutes.
•
Also 1 yard = 3 feet, 1 week = 7 days, 1 day = 24 hours, 1 pound = 16 ounces, 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters, 1 meter = 100 centimeters.
•
Also 1 pint = 2 cups, 1 quart = 2 pints, 1 quart = 4 cups and 1 gallon = 4 quarts.
•
1 kilometer, 1 kilogram or 1 liter is 1,000 of the smaller unit.
•
To change bigger units into smaller ones, multiply by that number. A table shows the pattern.
Step-by-step
WE KNOW
Bigger units: 3
Smaller units in 1 bigger unit: 12
FIND
smaller units
Step 1 · Find smaller units
3 × 12 = ?
Bigger units × smaller units in 1 bigger unit = smaller units
1 foot = 12 inches. Multiply by that number.
3 × 12 = 36
Smaller units = 36 (36 inches)
Check
Put the numbers back in. Both sides should match.
3 × 12 = 36 ✓
Topic check
See what you know: 5 questions on this topic
New questions each time. Pass to mark it complete.