Tennessee 6 - 2020 Edition
3.07 Converting units
Lesson

We can apply our understanding of ratios and proportional relationships to convert units.

#### Worked examples

##### Question 1

Evaluate: The ratio of miles to kilometers is $1:1.6$1:1.6. Use this fact to find out how many kilometers are equal to $5$5 miles.

Think:  The given ratio of $1:1.6$1:1.6 means that $1$1 mile is equal to $1.6$1.6 kilometers.  Set up a ratio problem, identifying by what factor each part of the ratio needs to be multiplied to give $5$5 miles.

Do

 miles to kilometers $1$1 $:$: $1.6$1.6 to get $5$5 miles, we need $5$5 lots of  the part representing miles in the ratio so we also need to multiply the number of kilometers by $5$5 $1\times5$1×5 $:$: $1.6\times5$1.6×5 $5$5 $:$: $8$8

So $5$5 miles is equivalent to $8$8 kilometers.

##### Question 2

$1$1 gallon is around $3.8$3.8 liters.

a)  State this as a ratio of liters to gallons, in the form $a:b$a:b. Give your answer in simplest form.

Think: We want a ratio that compares the number of liters to the numer of gallons.

Do: Liters:Gallons = $3.8:1$3.8:1

Simplest form is without fractions or decimals:

 $3.8$3.8 $:$: $1$1 multiply both parts by $10$10 to remove the decimal $38$38 $:$: $10$10 divide both parts by common factor of $2$2 $19$19 $:$: $5$5 this is in simplest form

This means that $19$19 liters is equivalent to $5$5 gallons.

b) How many liters would a $15$15 gallon vat hold?

Think: Use the conversion ratio.

Do

 Liters to Gallons $19$19 $:$: $5$5 for $15$15 gallons we need to multiply the $5$5 "gallons" parts by $3$3. $19\times3$19×3 $:$: $5\times3$5×3 so we need to multiply both parts of the ratio by $3$3 $57$57 $:$: $15$15

So $15$15 Gallons is equivalent to $57$57 Liters.

#### Practice questions

##### Question 3

The ratio of kilograms to ounces is $1:2.2$1:2.2. Use this fact to complete the workings below for finding out how many ounces are equal to $10$10 kilograms.

1.  $1$1 : $2.2$2.2 × $\editable{}$ × $10$10 $\editable{}$ : $\editable{}$

##### Question 4

$1$1 foot is equal to around $0.3$0.3 meters.

1. State this as a ratio of feet to meters, in the form $a:b$a:b. Write your answer in simplest form.

2. How many meters would a $100$100 foot garden be?

### Outcomes

#### 6.RP.A.3

Use ratio and rate reasoning to solve real-world and mathematical problems, e.g. By reasoning about tables of equivalent ratios, tape diagrams, double number line diagrams, or equations.

#### 6.RP.A.3.D

Use ratio reasoning to convert measurement units; manipulate and transform units appropriately when multiplying or dividing quantities.