RemeliaMaths Year 6 Measurement
Year 6 unit conversion problems
The objective: Solve problems involving calculation and conversion of units of measure, using decimals to 3 d.p..
The explanation, example and questions are the ones Remelia uses in the app; the questions are not taken from any test paper.
The idea
Conversion problems to 3 decimal places are the ordinary conversions with more care over the digits.
How to do it
- Identify the conversion factor.
- Multiply or divide.
- Keep all three decimal places until the end.
A worked example
2,345 m = 2.345 km.
Watch for
Rounding too early and losing accuracy.
Try four questions
-
Convert 62,030 mm into m.
Show the answer to question 1
Answer: 62.03 m
Why:
1,000 mm = 1 m, so 62,030 ÷ 1,000 = 62.03 m.
-
Convert 51.3 litres into ml.
Show the answer to question 2
Answer: 51,300 ml
Why:
1 litre = 1,000 ml, so 51.3 × 1,000 = 51,300 ml.
-
Convert 8,640 g into kg.
Show the answer to question 3
Answer: 8.64 kg
Why:
1,000 g = 1 kg, so 8,640 ÷ 1,000 = 8.64 kg.
-
Convert 230 m into km.
Show the answer to question 4
Answer: 0.23 km
Why:
1,000 m = 1 km, so 230 ÷ 1,000 = 0.23 km.
Answers
- 1. 62.03 m
- 2. 51,300 ml
- 3. 8.64 kg
- 4. 0.23 km
The mistakes Remelia names
When a wrong answer to a question like these matches one of these mistakes, the app says what the child seems to have done before they try again.
- Question 1, the answer 62,030,000: It looks as if you multiplied instead of dividing. Dividing by 10, 100 or 1,000 makes a number smaller: the digits move to the right.
- Question 1, the answer 620.3: Your digits are right, but in the wrong columns: your answer is 10 times too big.
- Question 1, the answer 6.203: Your digits are right, but in the wrong columns: your answer is 10 times too small.
- Question 2, the answer 0.0513: It looks as if you divided instead of multiplying. A smaller unit takes more of them to make the same amount, so the number gets bigger: the digits move to the left.