Measuring Length and Conversion

Years 9–10 Maths — Builder's Tape & Unit Conversion

Name:

Date:

📏 Part 1: Practical Measurement Activity

Use a builder's tape to measure each object below. Record your measurement first in mm, then convert to the other units. Round to 2 decimal places where needed.

Key Conversions: 10 mm = 1 cm | 100 cm = 1 m | 1 foot = 30.48 cm

1. Before you measure — estimate the length of your classroom desk in metres, then measure it.

My estimate: _____________ m My measured length: _____________ mm

Convert to cm: _____________ cm Convert to m: _____________ m Convert to feet: _____________ ft

2. Measure the width of the whiteboard.

Measured length: _____________ mm

Convert to cm: _____________ cm Convert to m: _____________ m Convert to feet: _____________ ft

3. Measure the height of the classroom door.

My estimate: _____________ m My measured length: _____________ mm

Convert to cm: _____________ cm Convert to m: _____________ m Convert to feet: _____________ ft

4. Was your estimate for Question 3 close to your measured value? Explain why estimates are useful before measuring.

🔢 Part 2: Unit Conversion Practice

Show your working in the space provided. Use the key conversions above.

5. Convert 2 500 mm to metres.

6. Convert 3.5 m to centimetres.

7. Convert 6 feet to centimetres. (1 foot = 30.48 cm)

8. A builder measures a wall as 4 250 mm. How many metres is this? Circle the correct answer:

42.5 m

4.25 m

0.425 m

425 m

🏗️ Part 3: Real-World Word Problems

9. Tama is a builder fitting skirting boards in a room. The room perimeter measures 14.8 m. Skirting board is sold in lengths of 240 cm. How many lengths does Tama need to buy? Show your working.

10. Aroha's height is recorded as 5 feet 4 inches. There are 12 inches in 1 foot and 1 inch = 2.54 cm. Convert her height to centimetres, then to metres.

11. Tick all the statements that are correct:

1 m = 1 000 mm

1 foot is longer than 1 metre

250 cm = 2.5 m

10 cm = 100 mm

1 foot ≈ 30.48 cm

12. Describe one real-life situation in New Zealand where you would need to convert between metric and imperial (feet) measurements. Why is accuracy important in that situation?