TOPIC 1: measurements

- Lengths

- Mass

- Temperature

- Capacity

- time

What is System of Measurement?

Measurement systems are a collection of units of measurement and rules relating them
to each other. The word “measurement” is derived from the Greek word "metron," which
means a limited proportion. This word also finds its roots in the words "moon" and
"month", possibly because astronomical objects were among the first methods to
measure time. In the old days, we used body parts for informal measurement systems
like foot length, cubit, handspan, etc. which were not so accurate and vary from person
to person.
So, there was a need to regularize the measurements. A system of measurement like
the International System of Units called the SI units ( the modern form of the metric
system), Imperial system, and US customary units were standardized across the world.

Introduction to Metric System of Measurement

A metric system is a system of measurement based on the standard units as a meter for
length, kilogram for mass, and liter for volume. It was introduced in France in the 1790s
and is now being used officially by many countries around the world. The metric system
is based on the international decimal system. The base units used in the metric system
are used to derive higher and lower units of measurement. Often the required unit is
either larger or much small than the defined units. Let us now look at the below
described, different systems of measurement.
Metric System: The units of the metric system, originally taken from observable
features of nature (basically what we normally measure like the time, length, mass, etc.
are defined by seven physical constants with numerical values in terms of the units.
Metrics systems evolved and over time are universally accepted as the International
System of Units called the SI System. Many countries follow this system.
US Standard Units: United States, Liberia, and Myanmar have not adopted the metric
system as their official system of weights and measures. U.S. customary units are used
across the states for measurements.

Metric Systems of Measurement

The Metric system has 3 main units namely, meter to measure the length, kilogram to
measure the mass, and seconds to measure time.
Meter: Length is measured in meters. The unit is denoted by the alphabet (m). Look at
the chart below. The base unit is "m" and we add "Deca," "Hecto," and "Kilo" to measure
large units by successively multiplying by 10 and "deci," "centi," and "millie"
successively dividing by 10, to measure smaller length. We can use a simple ruler to
measure length. For example, a pencil measured on a ruler would be 10 cm long.

Kilogram: Mass is measured in kilograms and the unit is denoted by (kg). It tells us
how heavy or how light an object is. We can multiply and divide the base units to
measure smaller and bigger units. In general, for our convenience, we use gram,
kilogram, and milligram. Other units are hardly used. We use a weighing scale to
measure how heavy things are. A weighing scale is used in supermarkets to weigh
groceries. A doctor also used a weighing scale to find the weight of a person.
Second: Time is measured in seconds. The representation of seconds is (s). Time is
the ongoing sequence of events taking place. It is used to quantify the duration of the
events. It also helps us to set the start time or the end time of events. The base unit for
time is seconds. Some of the conversion units of time are, 1 minute = 60 seconds, 1
hour = 60 minutes, 1 day = 24 hours, 1 week = 7 days, 1 year = 12 months, or 1 year =
365 days. We use a clock or watch to tell the current time. A stopwatch can be used to
measure the time in seconds.

Other Metric System of Measurements

Though we are aware of the basic defined metric systems for length, mass, volume, but
there are numerous other quantities in the physical world, for which we need to define
the base unit. Quantities like, force, power, area, magnetic intensity, have their own
individual units, which have been derived from the basic 7 quantities of the metric
system of measurement. Such quantities of the basic system are sometimes not
sufficient to overcome the challenges of studying and measuring other higher quantities
existing in physics. Here we shall look at some of the other important physical quantities
and their units.
Area: The area is the space occupied by a two-dimensional shape or figure. The area is
2 2 2
measured in square units like sq. cm or cm , sq. m or m , sq km or km , etc. Let us

2
look at the below example. If the area of each square is 1 cm . The area of shape A =
 2 2 2
1cm . Area of shape B = (1+1) = 2 cm . Area of shape C = (1+1+1) = 3 cm . Area of

2
shape D = (0.5 +1 +0.5 ) = 2 cm . Now that you know what an Area is, let's learn how to

find the Area of a Triangle, Area of a Quadrilateral, Area of a Circle.

Volume: Volume is the space enclosed or occupied by any three-dimensional object or

3 3
solid shape. It has length, width, and height. It is measured in cubic units like cm , m ,

etc. and liquid volume is measured in liters. Let us look at a simple example. The initial

volume of water in the container is 20 units. The volume of water when the object is

placed inside the container 30 is units. Therefore, the Volume of the object is the

difference between the two volumes, that is, 30-20 = 10 units. Finding the Volume of an

object can help us determine the amount required to fill that object, for example, the

amount of water in a bottle. Now, let's learn how to find the Volume of a Cuboid, Volume

of a Cylinder, Volume of a Cone, Volume of a Sphere.

Time: Time is the ongoing sequence of events taking place. It is used to quantify the

duration of the events. It also helps us set the start time or the end time of events. One

of the very first experiences we have with mathematics is learning how to measure time.
You may already know that the measurement of time is done using a watch and a

calendar. Now, let's learn how to read and represent time along with how to read a

calendar.

Speed: Speed is the change in position of the object with respect to time. It is the ratio
of distance traveled by the object to the time taken to travel that distance. The SI unit of
speed is m/s. It is also expressed in km/hr or miles/hr. In vehicles, we have a
speedometer that records the speed at which the vehicle is traveling.

US Standard System of Measurements

Just like the metrics system, the US follows the imperial system of units, also called the
U.S customary units. Here things are measured in feet, inches, pounds, ounces, etc. Let
us explore them in detail in the following sections.

Length: The four most commonly used measures of lengths are inch, feet, yards, miles.
Let us look at the conversions from one unit to another. 1 inch = 2.54 cms. 1 foot = 12
inches. 1 yard = 3ft or 36 inches. 1 mile = 1760 yards(5280 ft), (1 metrics 1.609344 km.)

Area: An area is a two-dimensional unit. It is the amount of space occupied by the

object. We use inches, feet, yards, miles to measure the length and thus area too. The
area is measured in square units such as square inch, square foot, square yard, square
mile, acre. A small area is measured in a square inch and larger surfaces are measured
in square yards. Land area is usually measured in acres. Let us look at a few examples
of areas. A chessboard is 100sq inches, a garage is 200 sq ft, a part is 100 sq yards, a
botanical garden is 500 sq miles, a football ground is exactly 1 acre (1 acre = 43,560
feet.)

Volume: Volume is a three-dimensional quantity. It is the amount of capacity/space a

substance contains, or the space it can hold. The most common measures of volume in
the US customary units are fluid ounces (fl. oz), cups, pints, quarts, and gallons. Note
that an ounce is the measure of mass and a fluid ounce is a measure of volume. A fluid
ounce is the size of a medicine cup. Other units like peck (1 peck = 2 gals), barrel (31.5
gals) are hardly used. Let us look at the conversion from one unit to another. 1 cup = 8 fl
oz. 1 pint = 2 cups. 1 quart = 2 pints, 1 gallon = 4 quarts.
Mass: The most common measurements of mass in the US customary units are ounces
(oz), pounds (lb), and tons (ton). Other very small units like dram (weight of grain) are
hardly used. Let us look at the conversions from one unit to another. 1 ounce = 16 dr, 1
pound = 16 oz, and 1 ton = 2000 lb. There are two variants for the ton. A short ton is
2,000 pounds, and a long ton is 2,240 pounds. In general, when we say a ton, it means
a short ton.

Time and Date: Time is measured in seconds. We use a clock (digital or analog) to tell

the current time. There are 12-hr clock and 24-hour clock formats as well. Further, let us

learn more about measuring time, reading and representing time, and how to read a

calendar. In the US, the format for writing the date is "month–day–year". For example

7/4/2000 means the 7th month - July, 4 - Date, and the year 2000. It is the Millenium

year Independence Day, July 4th!

Temperature: Temperature is the measure of how hot or cold substances are. We use
a thermometer to measure the temperature. The temperature is measured in degrees
Celsius (°C) or Fahrenheit (°F). 0 degrees celsius is equal to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. To
convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, you can use the formula Fahrenheit = 9/5 × Celcius + 32
Speed: Speed is the total distance covered by an object in a given time. It is the ratio of
distance covered to the time traveled. In British and US customary units, speed is
measured in miles per hour (mph). The speedometer is an instrument that gives the
current speed at which the vehicle is traveling. You might have seen it in your car.
Direction: The four cardinal directions are North, South, East, and West. A magnetic
compass tells the direction. The diagonal directions include the North-East, North-West,
South-East, and South-West. A compass is generally used for navigation and is used in
seas, deserts, where it is difficult to find the direction.

Conversions from One System of Measurement to

Another
The conversion of length, mass, area, volume from one system of measurement to
another system of measurement is very helpful to identify the units. In the below set of
tables, we have listed the different units of length, area, volume, mass from US
standard measurement to the metric measurement system. Please find below the
different units of conversion of length from US standard measurement to the metric
measurement system.

Length Conversions

US standard meaurement Metric Measurement

1 inch 2.54 cm

1 ft 0.3048 m

1 yard 0.914 m

1 mile 1.609 km

Please find below the different units of conversion of mass from US standard
measurement to the metric measurement system.

Mass Conversions

US Standard Metric Measurement

Measurement

1 ounce 28.34g

1 pound 0.453 kg

1 ton 907.184 kg

The following table shows the different units of conversion of the volume from US
standard measurement to the metric measurement system.

Volume(capacity)
Conversions

US standard Metric measurement

measurement

1 fluid ounce 29.573 ml

 1 fluid pint 0.473 l

1 fluid quart 0.946 l

1 gallon 3.785 l

Please find below the different units of conversion of the area from US standard
measurement to the metric measurement system.

Area Conversions

US standard Metrics measurement

measurement

1 sq.in 6.45 sq cm

1 sq ft 0.0929 sq.m

1 sq yd 0.836 sq m

1 acre 4046.86 sq m

☛ Related Articles
Check out few more interesting articles related to the system of measurement.
● Metric Conversion Chart

● Unit Conversion

● Convert km/h to m/s

● Length Conversion

System of Measurement Examples

Example 1: Using the system of measurement, determine how many feet are there

in 6 miles?

Solution:
From the conversion chart above, we can see that 1 mile = 5280 ft. Thus, in 6 miles

there are 6 × 5280 = 31,680 ft. Therefore, 6 miles = 31,680 feet.

Example 2: Emy measured 3 inches in her inch scale. How many centimeters will

it be approximately equal to?

Solution:

Using system of measurement, we have 1 in = 2.54 cm. Thus, 3 in = 3 × 2.54 = 7.62

cm. Therefore, 3 inches = 7.62 cm.

Example 3: Which of the following weighs the heaviest? (a) a sack of wheat

weighing 12 kg (b) a bag of rice weighing 0.15 tons (c) a box of corn weighing 100

pounds. Use system of measurement to find the answer.

Solution:

We know that 1 pound is roughly 1/2 kg. Hence 100 pounds is approximately 50 kg. 1

ton is roughly 1000 kg. 0.15 tons is approximately 150 kg. So, a bag of rice weighing

0.15 tons weighs the heaviest. Therefore, a bag of rice of 0.15 tons weighs the heaviest.

Example 4: A football ground exactly measures 1.32 acres in size. Using the

system of measurement, determine how many square feet does it measure?

Solution:

We know that,1 acre = 43560 sq ft. Thus, 1.32 acre = 1.32 × 43560 = 57499.2 sq. ft.

Therefore, 1.32 acres = 57499.2 sq.ft

Example 5: Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. What is the temperature in

degrees Fahrenheit?

Solution:

As per the measurement system, Fahrenheit = 9/5 × C +32. Substituting C = 100, we

get, F = 9/5 ×100 +32. Simplifying it further, we get, F = 9 × 20 +32 = 180 + 32 = 212.F.

Therefore, 100 Celsius is equal to 212 Fahrenheit.

Conversion of Units Measurements

Different units are used to measure different quantities. Let us
explore the units used to measure the following:
● Length
● Temperature
● Area
● Volume
● Weight

Quantity Units

Length inch (in), feet (ft), yards

(yd), miles

Temperature Kelvin (K), Fahrenheit (F),

Celsius (C)

Area Square Inch, Square Feet,

Acre, Square Yard,
Square Mile

Volume (Capacity) Fluid Ounces (fl oz), pint

(pt), quarts (qt), gallons
(gal)

Weight (Mass) Ounces, Pounds (lb), Tons

Non-standard units of measurement are used in the early years of learning, to introduce
children to the concept of measuring without them having to read any scales. Reading scales of
any kind is a difficult skill in itself, so the idea of non-standard measures is to focus the child on
the concept of heavier, lighter, longer, shorter, etc. before they move onto the next step of
measuring using standard units.
To measure the length of the objects the non-standard measure used is that of hand spans.
Using a handspan to measure objects is an informal way of figuring out the lengths. However,
the measurements may vary owing to the subjectivity involved.

Given below is a unit conversion table depicting the relationship between different units.

Quantity Relationship

Length 1 mile = 1760 yards =

5280 feet = 63,360 inches

Temperature C/5=F-32/9=K-273/5

Volume (Capacity) 1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8

pints = 128 fluid ounces

Weight (Mass) 1 ton = 2000 pounds =

32,000 ounces
Unit Conversion Charts
Unit Conversion Charts provide us with conversion factors for conversions of different units of
length, area, volume, temperature, etc, and serve as a reference for easy and quick
calculations. The charts are also considered as the conversion of units formula where it helps in
converting any quantity given in one unit to another. Let's have a look at the unit conversion
chart tables below:

Length Unit Conversions

1 millimeter 0.001 meter

1 centimeter 0.01 meter

1 decimeter 0.1 meter

1 decameter 10 meters

1 hectometer 100 meters

1 kilometer 1000 meters

1 inch -2
2.54 x 10 meters

1 foot 0.3048 meters/ 12 inches

1 yard 0.9144 meters/ 3feet

1 mile 1.609344 kilometers/ 1760

yards/ 5280 feet/ 63,360
inches

Area Unit Conversions

1 sq. inch -4
6.4516x10 sq. meters
 1 sq. foot -2
9.2903x10 sq. meters

1 acre 3
4.0468x10 sq. meters

1 hectare 4
1x10 sq. meters

1 sq. mile 2.5888x106 sq. meters

1 barn -28
1x10 square meters

Temperature Unit Conversions

C/5 = F-32/9 = K-273/5

Volume Unit Conversions

1 milliliter 0.001 liter

1 centiliter 0.01 liter

1 deciliter 0.1 liter

1 decaliter 10 liters

1 hectoliter 100 liters

1 kiloliter 1000 liters

1 cubic inch -2
1.639x10 liters

1 pint 473.16 milliliters/ 0.57

liters
 1 quart 946.353 milliliters/
0.946353 liters/ 2 pints

1 gallon 3.785 liters/ 4 quarts/ 8

pints/ 128 fluid ounces

1 cubic foot 28.316 liters

Mass Unit Conversions

1 milligram 0.001 grams

1 centigram 0.01 grams

1 decigram 0.1 grams

1 decagram 10 grams

1 ounce 28.3495 grams

1 hectagram 100 grams

1 kilogram 1000 grams

1 stone 6350.29 grams

1 pound 453.592 grams/

0.453592kg/ 16 ounces

1 ton 907.185kg/ 2000 pounds/

32,000 ounces

Metric to Standard Conversion Chart:

Length/Distance conversion chart
The length/distance conversion chart gives the basic unit conversions related to length
in a simple and easy form. Mile is the largest unit and inch is the smallest unit of
measuring length. Let' have a look at the chart given below:

Metric conversion chart to inches:

Length Equivalent

1 inch 2.54 cm
 1 foot 12 in

1 yard 3 ft or (36 in)

1 mile 1760 yards(5280

ft) (in metrics
1.609344 km)

As per the standard units, the length is measured in meters. The unit is denoted by the
alphabet (m).

Metric Conversion Chart to meters:

US standard Metrics
measurement measurement

1 in 2.54 cm

1 ft 0.3048 m

1 yd 0.914 m

1 mile 1.609 km

Area Conversion Chart

The area Conversion chart gives the basic unit conversions related to the area. The area
is the space occupied by a two-dimensional shape or figure. The area is measured in
square units. Let's have a look at the chart given below:

Area Units Example

 Square 2 2 A chessboard of 100
in , inch ,sq
inch sq. in
in, q inch,
square inch

Square 2 2 A garage of 200 sq. ft

ft , foot , sq.
foot
ft, sq foot, sq
feet

Square 2 2 A park of 100 sq. yard

yd , yard , sq.
yard
yd, sq yard

Square 2 A botanical garden of

mile , sq. mile
mile 500 sq. mile

Acre acre A football ground is

exactly 1 acre
1 acre = 43,560 sq ft

Volume conversion chart

The volume conversion chart gives the basic unit conversions related to volume. The
term capacity or volume is used for measuring the space occupied by the object. Volume
is the space enclosed or occupied by any three-dimensional object or solid shape. It has
length, width, and height. It is measured in cubic units. Finding the volume of an object
can help us determine the amount required to fill that object. For example, the amount of
water in a bottle. Let's have a look at the chart given below:
 Measure Equivalent Value

1 Cup (cp) 8 fl oz

1 Pint (pt) 2 cups

1 Quart (qt) 2 pints

1 Gallon (gal) 4 quarts

Liquid Volume conversion chart

Measure Equivalent Value

1 gallon 8 pints or 128

fluid ounces

1 pint 16 fluid ounces

Note that an ounce is the measure of mass and a fluid ounce is a measure of volume. A
fluid ounce is the size of a medicine cup. Other units like peck (1 peck = 2 gal), barrel
(31.5 gal ) are hardly used.

Weight Conversion Chart

The weight Conversion chart gives the basic unit conversions related to the weight. The
unit weight is used for measuring the mass of an object. It tells us how heavy and how
light is the object. We can multiply and divide the base units to measure smaller and
bigger units.

Measure Equivalent Value

1 ounce (oz) 16 drams

1 pound (lb) 16 oz

1 ton (ton) 2000 lb

Calculating Time
Calculation of time through looking at the analog clock though confusing at times but
can be still mastered through regular practice. The indications of the two hands of the
clock should be carefully noted and interpreted to calculate the time. Many a time the
hands of the clock do not rightly indicate the numbers and are mid-way between two
number markings. Here the right reading of the hands of the clock is needed. Here in
the below clock, let us try to learn the process of calculating time.
With every minute that passes, the hour hand would have covered some of the distance
between 1 and 2. When the minute hand would have started at 12 and completed one circle
back to 12, the hour hand would have gone from 1 to 2. Since each small section comprises 5
minutes, the time that has passed is 12 × 5 = 60 minutes. So, if the minute hand were at four
instead of six, the minutes passed would be 4 × 5=20 minutes. So, this makes it clear that 1
hour is equal to 60 minutes. From 12 to 1, 2, 3, and so on till 11 and then 12, the hour hand
crossing 1 number represents an hour. The movement of the minute hand from one number to
the other on the clock shows a movement of 5 minutes. An additional really thin hand on the
clock that is rotating really fast? It represents seconds. Every minute consists of 60 seconds.
Given below is a table on time conversion:

1 Day 24 Hours

1 Hour 60 Minutes

1 Minute 60 Seconds

Represent Time in 12 Hours Clock

The time of the day written in the 12-hour clock runs from 1 am to 12 noon and then 1 pm to 12
midnight. From 12 o’clock at midnight to 11:59 in the morning, the time is referred to as a.m.
From 12 noon to 11:59 in the night, the time is referred to as p.m., AM stands for Ante Meridiem
(before noon), and PM stands for Post Meridiem (afternoon). Ante-meridiem means before the
Sun has crossed the meridian line and post-meridiem means after the Sun has crossed the
meridian line.

Example: In the 12-hour format, we need to take the help of AM and PM to describe the time
properly. So, if it is 20 minutes past 9’oclock in the morning, it is 9:20 AM. But at the same time
in the evening, it would be described as 9:20 PM. The major disadvantage of the 12-hour format
is the higher chances of miscommunication. It may so happen that one confuses AM with PM.
That's why we have the 24-hour format. The 24-hour clock format is commonly used for time
representation in the military, railway stations, airports, etc.

Represent Time in 24 Hours Clock

The time of day written in the 24-hour clock uses the number 00:00 to 23:59 (midnight is 00:00)
In the 24-hour format, time is described as the 24-hour period. So, 9.20 AM would be written as
0920 hours, whereas 9.20 PM would be described as 2120 hours.

Example: Consider 15:30. This is 15 hours from the beginning of the day, which means it is
past the morning and is the afternoon. Taking off the 12 hours in the morning gives 3 hours, so
the time is 3:30 P.M. For the 24-hour clock, we simply add 12 to the hours of the 12-hour clock
and remove P.M. For example 10:00 P.M. in the 12-hour clock is (10+12=22) 22:00 in the
24-hour clock. And we can simply subtract 12 from the hours of the 24-hour clock and add P.M.
i.e., 22:00 in the 24-hour clock is (22-12=10) 10:00 in the 12-hour clock.

Example 1: Max, Rosy, and Jose go to school every day at 7:00 A.M. Their school
bus takes a half-hour to reach the school. At what time does the school bus reach
school?
Solution:
We know that half-hour = 30 Minutes. Time elapsed = Starting Time + Time Taken =
7:00 + 0:30 A.M. = 7:30 A.M.
Therefore, the School bus reaches the school at 7.30 AM every day.

Example 2: Andrea needs help with the following conversions. Can you help her?
1. 3 minutes 15 seconds into seconds
2. 4 hours 30 minutes into minutes.
3. 2 days 8 hours into hours.
Solution:
1. We know that 1 minute = 60 seconds. Here we have 3 minutes 15 seconds = 3 × 60
seconds + 15 seconds = 180 seconds + 15 seconds =195 seconds. Therefore, 3
minutes 15 seconds is equal to 195 seconds.
2. We know that 1 minute = 60 seconds. Here we have 4 hour 30 minutes = 4 × 60
minutes + 30 minutes =240 minutes + 30 minutes = 270 minutes. Therefore, 4 hours
and 30 minutes is equal to 270 minutes.
3. We know that 1 day = 24 hours. Here we have 2 days 8 hours = 2 × 24 hours + 8
hours = 48 hours + 8 hours = 56 hours. Therefore, 2 days and 8 hours is equal to 56
hours.

TOPIC 2: Ratio, rate, and speed

Rate Definition
When two quantities of different units are compared and expressed as a ratio, we refer to it as
'Rate'. For example, if we say that a car travels at a speed of 100 miles per hour, then it means
in one hour it covers 100 miles. Here, miles and hours are different units. This way of comparing
two different units expressed as a single ratio is termed as 'Rate'.

Definition of Rate
In math, a rate is a ratio that compares two different quantities which have different units. For
example, if we say John types 50 words in a minute, then his rate of typing is 50 words per
minute. The word "per" gives a clue that we are dealing with a rate. The word "per" can be
further replaced by the symbol "/" in problems. Let us consider an example of a car that is
traveling at a speed of 150 miles in 3 hours. This can be expressed as 150 miles divided by 3
hours which is equal to 150 miles/3 hours or 50 miles/hour. Here the word 'per' means for every
hour. 50 miles/ hour is the average speed at which the car travels. 50 miles/hour is an example
of a unit rate. Let's learn about the unit rate in the next section.

Unit Rate
The unit rate is different from that of a rate, in which a certain number of units of the first quantity
is compared to one unit of the second quantity. In other words, we can say that the second
quantity in the comparison is always 1. For example, in one minute there are 60 seconds.
Therefore, as a unit rate, we can express it as 60 seconds per minute. Here, the word 'per
minute' refers to one minute. Some other examples include walking for 30 minutes per day, and
reading 20 pages per hour.

Ratio Definition
A ratio is used to compare two or more like quantities or numbers with the same units. It is often

written with a colon, and when used in words, we say the ratio of one quantity "to" the second

quantity. For example, the ratio of girls and boys in a class is 3 is to 4, or 3:4. Some problems

may give you just two numbers, such as comparing two quantities, while some may have more

than two quantities. For example, the ratio of different ingredients used in a recipe.

Rate and Ratio Difference

Rate and ratio are completely different yet related terms in math. The key differences between
the two terms are listed below.
Examples of Rate
A few examples of rate are given below:
● Time rate: Distance per unit time, average speed (miles/ hour), and interest

(simple or compound) rates.

● Cost Price: cost/pound, quantity per cost (20 oz of juice/ 4 dollars), or for

comparing prices.

● Other examples can be the literacy rate, the population, and other rates which

provide specific data.

How is Rate Calculated?

In general, we can write down the formula for rate as the ratio between two quantities with
various units. Putting this in the ratio format, we get,
Rate = Quantity 1 / Quantity 2
For example, the steps to be followed to calculate the rate are given below.
● Step 1: Write down the two quantities that are in different units.
● Step 2: Find the ratio of quantity 1 to quantity 2.
● Step 3: Express the ratio in the simplest form to find the rate.
 ● Step 4: The answer will proceed with unit 1/unit 2 as the unit for the value of
rate found.
Let us take an example to understand this better. Ben rode his bike for 2 hours and traveled 24
miles. To calculate the speed at which he rode, let us use the formula for rate. which is, Rate =
Quantity 1 / Quantity 2. Given, quantity 1 = 24 miles, quantity 2 = 2 hours. Substituting the
values in the formula, we get, Rate = 24 miles/ 2 hours. Here, the speed is the rate.
So, rate = 12 miles/hour or 12 miles per hour.
Unit rate is also a comparison between two quantities that have different units except for the fact
that the quantity in the denominator is always one. Putting this in the ratio format, we get, Unit
Rate = Quantity 1 / One Unit of Quantity 2. The rate "miles per minute" gives the distance
traveled per unit of time. In order to calculate the unit rate, we divide the denominator with the
numerator in such a way that the denominator becomes 1. For example, if 260 miles are
covered in 2 hours, the unit rate will be 260 miles/2 hours which is equal to 130 miles/hour. In
other words, the denominator is always 1 in a unit rate. Other examples of unit rate are
revolutions/minute, salary/month, frequency/minute.

Ratio
Ratio, in math, is a term that is used to compare two or more numbers. It is used to
indicate how big or small a quantity is when compared to another. In a ratio, two
quantities are compared using division. Here the dividend is called the 'antecedent' and
the divisor is called the 'consequent'. For example, in a group of 30 people, 17 of them
prefer to walk in the morning and 13 of them prefer to cycle. To represent this
information as a ratio, we write it as 17: 13. Here, the symbol ': ' is read as "is to". So,
the ratio of people who prefer walking to the people who prefer cycling is read as '17 is
to 13'.

What is Ratio?
The ratio is defined as the comparison of two quantities of the same units that
indicates how much of one quantity is present in the other quantity. Ratios can be
classified into two types. One is part to part ratio and the other is part to whole ratio. The
part-to-part ratio denotes how two distinct entities or groups are related. For example,
the ratio of boys to girls in a class is 12: 15, whereas, the part-to-whole ratio denotes the
relationship between a specific group to a whole. For example, out of every 10 people, 5
of them like to read books. Therefore, the part to the whole ratio is 5: 10, which means
every 5 people from 10 people like to read books.
Ratio Formula
We use the ratio formula while comparing the relationship between two numbers or

quantities. The general form of representing a ratio of between two quantities say 'a'

and 'b' is a: b, which is read as 'a is to b'.

The fraction form that represents this ratio is a/b. To further simplify a ratio, we follow
the same procedure that we use for simplifying a fraction. a:b = a/b. Let us understand
this with an example.
Example: In a class of 50 students, 23 are girls and the remaining are boys. Find the
ratio of the number of boys to the number of girls.
Total number of students = 50; Number of girls = 23.
Total number of boys = Total number of students - Total number of girls
= 50 - 23
= 27
Therefore, the desired ratio is, (Number of boys: Number of girls), which is 27:23.

Calculation of Ratios
In order to calculate the ratio of two quantities, we can use the following steps. Let us
understand this with an example. For example, if 15 cups of flour and 20 cups of sugar
are needed to make fluffy pancakes, let us calculate the ratio of flour and sugar used in
the recipe.
 ● Step 1: Find the quantities of both scenarios for which we are determining the
ratio. In this case, it is 15 and 20.
● Step 2: Write it in the fraction form a/b. So, we write it as 15/20.
● Step 3: Simplify the fraction further, if possible. The simplified fraction will

give the final ratio. Here, 15/20 can be simplified to 3/4.

● Step 4: Therefore, the ratio of flour to sugar can be expressed as 3: 4.

Use Cuemath's free online ratios calculator to verify your answers while calculating

ratios.

How to Simplify Ratios?

A ratio expresses how much of one quantity is required as compared to another
quantity. The two terms in the ratio can be simplified and expressed in their lowest form.
Ratios when expressed in their lowest terms are easy to understand and can be
simplified in the same way as we simplify fractions. To simplify a ratio, we use the
following steps. Let us understand this with an example. For example, let us simplify the
ratio 18:10.
● Step 1: Write the given ratio a:b in the form of a fraction a/b. On writing the
ratio in the fraction form, we get 18/10.
● Step 2: Find the greatest common factor of 'a' and 'b'. In this case, the GCF

of 10 and 18 is 2.

● Step 3: Divide the numerator and denominator of the fraction with the GCF to

obtain the simplified fraction. Here, by dividing the numerator and

denominator by 2, we get, (18÷2)/(10÷2) = 9/5.

● Step 4: Represent this fraction in the ratio form to get the result. Therefore,

the simplified ratio is 9:5.

Use Cuemath's free online simplifying ratios calculator to verify your answers.

Tips and Tricks on Ratio:

● In case both the numbers 'a' and 'b' are equal in the ratio a: b, then a: b = 1.
● If a > b in the ratio a : b, then a : b > 1.
● If a < b in the ratio a : b, then a : b < 1.
 ● It is to be ensured that the units of the two quantities are similar before
comparing them.
Equivalent Ratios
Equivalent ratios are similar to equivalent fractions. If the antecedent (the first term) and

the consequent (the second term) of a given ratio are multiplied or divided by the same

number other than zero, it gives an equivalent ratio. For example, when the antecedent

and the consequent of the ratio 1:3 are multiplied by 3, we get, (1 × 3) : (3 × 3) or 3: 9.

Here, 1:3 and 3:9 are equivalent ratios. Similarly, when both the terms of the ratio 20:10

are divided by 10, it gives 2:1. Here, 20:10 and 2:1 are equivalent ratios. An infinite

number of equivalent ratios of any given ratio can be found by multiplying the

antecedent and the consequent by a positive integer.

Ratio Table
A ratio table is a list containing the equivalent ratios of any given ratio in a structured

manner. The following ratio table gives the relation between the ratio 1:4 and four of its

equivalent ratios. The equivalent ratios are related to each other by the multiplication of

a number. Equivalent ratios are obtained by multiplying or dividing the two terms of a

ratio by the same number. In the example shown in the figure, let us take the ratio 1:4

and find four equivalent ratios, by multiplying both the terms of the ratio by 2, 3, 6, and

9. As a result, we get 2:8, 3:12, 6:24, and 9:36.

Speed
Speed is defined as the rate at which an object is moving
(covering a particular distance). It is a scalar quantity as it
defines only the magnitude and not direction.
The SI-derived unit for speed is meter per second (m/s).

What is the Speed Formula?

Let's move further and explore more about the speed formula in this section. Different units can

be used to express speed, like m/s, km/hr, miles/hr, etc. The dimensional formula of speed is

-1
[LT ]. Speed is a measure of how fast a body is moving. The formula for the speed of a given

body can be expressed as,

Formula for Speed

Speed = Distance ÷ Time

How to Use Speed Formula?

Speed formula can be used to find the speed of objects, given the distance and time taken to
cover that distance. We can also use the speed formula to calculate the distance or time by
substituting the known values in the formula for speed and further evaluating,
Distance = Speed × Time or, Time = Distance/Speed
Let's take a quick look at an example showing how to use the formula for speed.
Example: What is your speed if you travel 3600 m in 30 minutes?
Solution: Using Formula for Speed,
Speed = Distance ÷ Time
Speed = 3600 ÷ (30 × 60) = 2
Answer: Your speed if you travel 3600m in 30 minutes is 2 m/s.

Topic 3: Temperature
Temperature Conversion
Temperature conversion is the process of changing the value of temperature from one unit to
another. Learn about the temperature conversion formulas as you scroll down. We measure
temperature on scales like Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit, etc. According to the Kelvin scale,
the freezing point and the boiling point of water are 273.15K and 373.15K respectively.
According to the Fahrenheit scale, the freezing point and the boiling point of water are 32°F and
212°F respectively. According to the Celsius scale, the freezing point and the boiling point of
water are 0°C and 100°C respectively. There can be three main conversions of temperature
which are possible:
● Between Celsius and Kelvin.
● Between Fahrenheit and Kelvin.
● Between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
Let us learn more about the temperature conversion and the formulas along with examples.

What are Temperature Conversion Formulas?

Temperature conversion formulas are defined as the conversion formulas for changing the

value of temperature from one unit to another. They are various distinct temperature

conversion methods. Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit are the most commonly used scales for

temperature measurement. Here are the temperature conversion formulas:

● Celsius to Kelvin: K = C + 273.15

● Kelvin to Celcius: C = K - 273.15
● Fahrenheit to Celcius: C = (F-32) (5/9)
● Celsius to Fahrenheit: F = C(9/5) + 32
● Fahrenheit to Kelvin: K = (F-32) (5/9) + 273.15
● Kelvin to Fahrenheit: F = (K-273.15) (9/5) + 32
Before learning the temperature conversion formulas, let us recall the units of temperature in
detail.

Units of Temperature
Different units can be used to record the temperature. The three different units used for
measuring temperature are Celsius (°C) Fahrenheit (°F), and Kelvin (K). Kelvin is the SI unit of
measuring temperature, whereas Fahrenheit and Celsius are commonly used scales.

Celsius
Celsius scale was Invented in 1742 by Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius and hence named
after him. Celsius, also called centigrade, is based on the freezing point of water which is 0°,
and the boiling point of water which is 100° The temperature in celsius is represented with °C.
Normal human body temperature is 37°C.
Fahrenheit
The Fahrenheit scale is a temperature scale developed by Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit and hence
named after him. This scale has the boiling point of water at 212° F and the freezing point at 32°
F. The temperature in Fahrenheit is represented with °F. The normal human body temperature is
98.6°F.
Kelvin
Kelvin is the SI unit of temperature. The unit symbol is K. It is named after the physicist William
st
Thomson, 1 Baron Kelvin (1824–1907). Here the degree symbol ° is not used to represent the
temperature, unlike in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
Temperature Conversion Formulas Between Celsius
and Kelvin
Conversion of temperature between Celsius and Kelvin is done using the following formulas:
● The temperature conversion formula from Celsius to Kelvin is:

K = C + 273.15

● The temperature conversion formula from Kelvin to Celcius is:

C = K − 273.15

Example: Convert 16°C into Kelvin.

Solution:

C = 16°C (Given). Using the Celsius to Kelvin conversion formula,

K = C + 273.15
= 16 + 273.15
= 289.15 K
Therefore, 16°C is equivalent to 289.15 K.

Temperature Conversion Formulas Between

Fahrenheit and Celsius
Conversion of temperature between Fahrenheit and Celsius is done using the following
formulas:
● The temperature conversion formula from Fahrenheit to Celsius is:

C = (F − 32) × 5/9

● The temperature conversion formula from Celsius to Fahrenheit is:

F = C(9/5) + 32

Example: What is 115°F on the Celsius scale?

Solution:
F = 115°F.
Using Fahrenheit to Celsius conversion formula,
C = (F − 32) × 5/9
= (115 − 32) × (5/9)
= 46.11°F
Therefore, 115°F is 46.11°C on the centigrade scale.

Temperature Conversion Formulas Between

Fahrenheit and Kelvin
Conversion of temperature between Fahrenheit and Kelvin is done using the following formulas:
● The temperature conversion formula from Fahrenheit to Kelvin is:

K = (F − 32) × 5/9 + 273.15

● The temperature conversion formula from Kelvin to Fahrenheit is:

F = (K – 273.15) × 9/5 + 32

Example: Convert 100 degrees Fahrenheit to Kelvin.

Solution:

Temperature in Fahrenheit, F = 100 F(Given). Using Fahrenheit to Kelvin Formula,

K = (F − 32) × 5/9 + 273.15
=(100 − 32) × 5/9 + 273.15
= 310.93 K
Therefore, 100 degrees Fahrenheit = 310.93 K

Temperature Conversion Table

Here is a temperature conversion table for your easy reference! The table includes the freezing
point of water, the normal body temperature in humans, and the boiling point of water in all units
of temperatures.

Kelvin Celsius Fahrenheit

273.15 K 0° C 32 °F
(freezing point of water)

274.15 K 1° C 33.8 °F

275.15 K 2 °C 35.6 °F

276.15 K 3°C 37.4 °F

277.15 K 4°C 39.2 °F

278.15 K 5°C 41.0 °F

283.15 K 10°C 50.0 °F

288.15 K 15°C 59.0 °F

293.15 K 20°C 68.0 °F

298.15 K 25°C 77.0 °F

303.15 K 30°C 86.0 °F

308.15 K 35°C 95.0 °F

 310.15 K 37°C 98.6 °F
(Normal body
temperature)

313.15 K 40°C 104.0 °F

323.15 K 50°C 122.0 °F

333.15 K 60°C 140.0 °F

343.15 K 70°C 158.0 °F

353.15 K 80°C 176.0 °F

363.15 K 90°C 194.0 °F

373.15 K 100°C 212.0 °F

(boiling point of water)

473.15 K 200 °C 392.0 °F

Tips and Tricks on Temperature Conversion Formulas:

● A simple trick to remember the temperature conversion formula without
fractions is 5(°F)= 9(°C) +160.
● Another trick to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit is to multiply 1.8 to the Celsius
degree and add 32.
● To find the approximate temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, subtract 30 from
the Celsius and then divide by 2.