Measurement Conversions — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
2 yards = 60 inches because 1 yard equals 30 inches.
Corrected: 2 yards = 72 inches because 1 yard equals 36 inches and 36 × 2 = 72.
One yard equals 36 inches (3 feet x 12 inches), not 30. So 2 yards is 36 x 2 = 72 inches, not 60.
2. Fix the sentence:
6 meters = 60 centimeters because there are 10 centimeters in a meter.
Corrected: 6 meters = 600 centimeters because there are 100 centimeters in a meter and 100 × 6 = 600.
There are 100 centimeters in a meter, not 10. So 6 meters equals 100 x 6 = 600 centimeters, not 60.
3. Fix the sentence:
2 miles = 5,280 feet because each mile has 5,280 feet.
Corrected: 2 miles = 10,560 feet because each mile has 5,280 feet and 5,280 × 2 = 10,560.
The original forgot to multiply: 5,280 feet is only 1 mile. For 2 miles you need 5,280 x 2 = 10,560 feet.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. 4 yards = 12 feet
The answer is "12." Since 1 yard equals 3 feet, multiply 3 by 4 to get 12 feet.
2. 9,000 meters = 9 kilometers
The answer is "9." There are 1,000 meters in a kilometer, so divide 9,000 by 1,000 to get 9 kilometers.
3. 72 inches = 6 feet
The answer is "6." Since 1 foot equals 12 inches, divide 72 by 12 to get 6 feet.
4. 3 kilometers = 3000 meters
The answer is "3000." One kilometer equals 1,000 meters, so 3 kilometers is 1,000 x 3 = 3,000 meters.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. A desk is 4 feet long. How many inches is that? Show your reasoning.
Sample answer: Since 1 foot equals 12 inches, multiply 4 by 12 to get 48 inches.
Since 1 foot equals 12 inches, multiply 12 by 4 to convert: 12 x 4 = 48 inches for the desk.
2. A running track is 400 meters. How many laps make 2 kilometers? Explain.
Sample answer: 2 kilometers equals 2,000 meters, so divide 2,000 by 400 to get 5 laps.
First convert 2 kilometers to 2,000 meters (1 km = 1,000 m). Then divide 2,000 by the track length of 400 meters: 2,000 / 400 = 5 laps.