Prefixes for units of measurement

Prefix Multiplying factor

tera (T) 1012 = 1000 000 000 000

giga (G) 109 = 1000 000 000

mega (M) 106 = 1000 000

kilo (K) 103 = 1000

centi (c) 10-2 = 0.01

mili(m) 10-3 = 0.001

micro (µ) 10-6 = 0.000 001

nano (n) 10-9 = 0.000 000 001

Example1. Convert the following to metres.

a) 5.3 megametres= 5.3 × 106 m (or 5 300 000 m)
b) 46 nanometres= 46 × 10−9 m = 4.6 × 10−8 m (or 0.000 000 046 m)
Q1. Convert the following to grams.
a)7 gigagrams b)38 nanograms
Q2. Convert the following to joules.
a)3.1 megajoules b)124 millijoules
Q3. Convert the following to watts.
a)4 terawatts b)45 microwatts
Q4. Convert the following to grams.
a)9 kilograms b)2 gigagrams
Example2. a) Convert 12 000 metres to:
i) kilometres 12 000 m = 12 000 ÷ 103 km =12 000 ÷ 1000= 12 km
ii) megametres12 000 ÷ 106 Mm =12 000 ÷ 1000 000 Mm=0.012 Mm
b) Convert 0.0006 metres to:
i) millimetres 6 × 10−4÷ 10−3 mm = (6 × 10−4) × 103 mm = 0.6 mm
ii) micrometres6 × 10−4÷ 10−6μm= (6 × 10−4) × 106μm= 600 μm
Q5. Convert 26 000 grams to:
a) kilograms b) megagrams.
Q6. Convert 0.000 075 grams to:
a) milligrams b) nanograms.
Q7.a) Convert 67 000 000 litres to:
i) kilolitres ii) gigalitres.
 b) Convert 0.000 000 82 litres to:
i)microlitres
Q8.a) Convert 640 000 000 metres to:
i)megametres ii) gigametres.
b) Convert 0.000 000 9 metres to:
i)centimetres ii) nanometres.
Q9. Convert 560 000 joules to:
a) kilojoules b) megajoules
Example3. a) How many kilometres are there in 2.4 gigametres?
2.4 Gm = (2.4 × 109) ÷ 103 km = 2.4 × 106 km
b) How many picometres are there in 7 millimetres?
(7 × 10−3) ÷ 10−12 pm = 7 × 109 pm
Q10. Convert the following.
a)7 milliwatts into microwatts b)2 kilograms to milligrams
c)5 millilitres to microlitres d)1.8 kilojoules to millijoules
e)17 centimetres to micrometres f)300 megalitres to teralitres
Q11. The standard unit of measurement for digital information is the kilobyte.
1 kilobyte (kB or KB) = 1024 (= 210) bytes.
a) Using this definition, 1 megabyte (MB) = 10242 bytes and 1 gigabyte (GB) = 10243 bytes. Convert:
i)1 MB to kB ii)1 GB to MB iii)1 GB to kB
b) Given that 1 terabyte TB = 10244 bytes, convert 1 TB to:
i) kB ii) MB iii) GB
c) Convert the following to bytes (as a power of 2).
i)1 MB ii)1 GB iii)1 TB

Measurement of time
Example1.Convert the following.
a)3.6 seconds to milliseconds = 3.6 ÷ 10−3 ms= 3.6 × 103 ms (or 3600 ms)
b)5900 picoseconds to nanoseconds=5900 × 10−12 ÷ 10−9 ns = (5.9 × 10−9) ÷ 10−9 ns = 5.9 × 100 ns = 5.9 ns
Q1. Convert the following times.
a)2.9 seconds to milliseconds b)730 microseconds to milliseconds
c)7400 picoseconds to nanoseconds d)3.7 nanoseconds to femtoseconds
e)14 500 attoseconds to femtoseconds f)684 nanoseconds to milliseconds
Example2.Convert the following.
a)1 day to seconds = 24 × 60 × 60 s = 86 400 s
b)360 000 years to millennia= 360 000 ÷ 1000 millennia = 360 millennia
Q2. Convert these times.
a)3 weeks to hours b)3888 minutes to days
Q3. Convert the following.
a)5 weeks to seconds b)1 fortnight to minutes
c)3 centuries to months d)5400 years to centuries
e)756 years to decades f)250 years to weeks
Q4. A honey bee takes 5 milliseconds to flap its wings once. How many times would it flap its wings if it
was inflight for 10 seconds?

Limits of accuracy of measuring instruments (+0.5, - 0.5 unit of measurement)

Example1. For each of the following measurement find
i) The smallest unit of measurement ii) Greatest possible error
iii) The lower and upper limit of true measurement

a) 16 seconds
i) The smallest unit of measurement = 1 second
1
ii) Greatest possible error = 2
of 1 second = 0.5 second

iii) The lower and upper limit of true measurement

Lower limit = 15.5 seconds Upper limits = 16.5 Seconds
b) 5.7 kg
i) The smallest unit of measurement = 0.1kg
1
ii) Greatest possible error = 2
of 0.1 kg = 0.05 kg

iii) The lower and upper limit of true measurement

Lower limit = 5.65 kg Upper limits = 5.75 kg
c) 9.38 meters
i) The smallest unit of measurement = 0.01m
1
ii) Greatest possible error = 2
of 0.01m = 0.005m

iii) The lower and upper limit of true measurement

Lower limit = 9.375m Upper limits = 9.385m
Q1. For each of the following measurement find
i) The smallest unit of measurement =
ii) Greatest possible error =
iii) The lower and upper limit of true measurement
i) ii) iii)
a) 19 cm
b) 286 gm
c) 14 minutes
d) 15 litres
e) 3.6 kg
f) 15.3 seconds
g) 1.15 gm
h) 3.76 kg
Example2. If 17 m of rope is to be cut into 3 equal pieces, calculate the length of each piece correct to:
i) 1 s.f 17 m ÷ 3 = 5.6666… m Correct to 1 significant figure, 5.666… m ≈ 6 m
ii) 3 s.f.Correct to 3 significant figures, 5.666… m ≈ 5.67 m
iii) 4 s.f.Correct to 4 significant figures, 5.666… m ≈ 5.667 m
bWhich unit of length would be appropriate to achieve each of the levels of accuracy in part a?
i) Correct to 1 significant figures is equivalent to ‘to the nearest metre’. Thus an appropriate unit of length to
use to achieve this level of accuracy would be ‘the metre’(a measuring instrument with metres marked on it).
ii)Correct to 3 significant figures is equivalent to ‘to the nearest centimetre’. An appropriate unit of length to
use would be ‘the centimetre’ (a measuring instrument with centimetres marked on it).
iii) Correct to 4 significant figures is equivalent to ‘to the nearest millimetre’. An appropriate unit of length
to use would be ‘the millimetre’ (a measuring instrument with millimetres marked on it).

Q2.a)A 50 m length of curtain material is to be cut into 7 equal pieces.Calculate the length of each piece
correct to:
i)1 significant figure ii)3 significant figures iii)4 significant figures
b)Which unit of length would be appropriate to achieve each of the levels of accuracy in part a.
Q3.a) A 400 g bag of flour is to be divided into 3 equal amounts. Calculate the mass of each amount correct
to:
i)1 significant figure ii)2 significant figures iii)3 significant figures
b) Which unit of mass would be appropriate to achieve each of the levels of accuracy in part a.
Example3.Explain the difference between measurements of 5.62 m and 5.620 m.
5.62 m has been measured to the nearest centimetre and 5.620 have been measured to the nearest millimetre.
The second measurement is more accurate.
Q3. Explain the difference between measurements of:
a)3.64 m and 3.640 m b)5.8 kg and 5.80 kg c)12 s and 12.0 s
d)36 cm and 36.0 cm e)23.8 s and 23.80 s f)7.29 km and 7.290 km
Example4.The length of a rectangle was measured to be 8 cm and the breadth 6 cm, to the nearest
centimetre.
a)Calculate the perimeter of the rectangle using these measurements.
The perimeter of the rectangle is 8 + 8 + 6 + 6 = 28 cm.
b) Write down the greatest possible error in each of these measurements.
The perimeter of the rectangle is 8 + 8 + 6 + 6 = 28 cm.
c) Hence find the limits of accuracy of the length and breadth.
The limits of accuracy of the length are 7.5 cm and 8.5 cm.
The limits of accuracy of the breadth are 5.5 cm and 6.5 cm.
d) Calculate the lower and upper limits of the true perimeter.
Lower limit of perimeter is 7.5 + 7.5 + 5.5 + 5.5 = 26 cm.
Upper limit of perimeter is 8.5 + 8.5 + 6.5 + 6.5 = 30 cm.
e) Find the maximum error in the answer calculated in part a.
The maximum error in the calculation of the perimeter is30 − 28 (or 28 − 26) = 2 cm.
Q4. The masses of two bags of sand were measured and found to be 47 kg and 52 kg, to the nearest kg.
Determine:
a)The total mass of the two bags using these measurements
b)The greatest possible error of each measurement
c)The limits of accuracy of each mass
d) i)the lower limit of mass ii)the upper limit of mass
e) The maximum error in the calculation of the total mass.
Example5.The length and breadth of a rectangle were measured to be 8 cm and 6 cm respectively, to the
nearest centimetre.
a) Calculate the area of the rectangle using these measurements.
The area of the rectangle is 8 × 6 cm2 = 48 cm2
b) Write down the greatest possible error in each of these measurements.
The greatest possible error of each measurement is 0.5 cm
c) Hence find the limits of accuracy of the length and breadth.
The limits of accuracy of the length are 7.5 cm and 8.5 cm
The limits of accuracy of the breadth are 5.5 cm and 6.5 cm
d) Calculate the lower and upper limits of the true area.
Lower limit of area is 7.5 × 5.5 = 41.25 cm2
Upper limit of area is 8.5 × 6.5 = 55.25 cm2
e) Find the maximum error in the answer calculated in part a.
48 − 41.25 = 6.75 cm2 55.25 − 48 = 7.25 cm2
The maximum error in the area calculation is 7.25 cm2
Q5. The length and breadth of a rectangular room were measured to be 5 m and 3 m respectively, to the
nearest metre. Determine:
a)The area of the rectangle using these measurements
b)The greatest possible error of each measurement
c)The limits of accuracy of the length and breadth
d) i)the lower limit of area ii)the upper limit of area
e)The maximum error in the calculation of the area
Example6. The length and breadth of a rectangle were measured to be 12.6 cm and 6.4 cm respectively.
Give areasonable estimate of the area of the rectangle, using these measurements.
Area = 12.6 × 6.4 cm2= 80.64 cm2= 81 cm2 to 2 s.f.
Q6. The length and breadth of a rectangular block of land were measured to be 135 m and 42 m respectively.
Finda reasonable estimate of the area of this block, using these measurements.
Q7. The mass and volume of a block of lead were measured to be 2.894 kg and 0.255 m3 respectively. Give
a reasonable estimate of the density of lead, using these measurements.
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
Density = 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

Percentage Error
𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟
Percentage Error = 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
× 100

Example1. In the figure on the right each measurement has been taken to the nearest centimetre.
a) Calculate the volume of the figure.

V = 12×16 ×6 = 1152 cm3

b) Calculate the maximum error in the volume calculation.

 Maximum volume= 12.5×16.5 ×6.5 = 1340.625 cm3
Minimum volume= 11.5×15.5 ×5.5 = 980.375 cm3
Maximum Error = 1340.625 - 1152 = 188.625
or
Maximum Error = 1152 - 980.375 = 171.625
So maximum error is 188.625
c) Calculate the percentage error of the volume.
188.25
Percentage Error = 1152
× 100 = 16.34%

Example1.A car’s fuel tank has a capacity of 65 litres. If this capacity is given to the nearest litre, find
the degree of accuracy as a percentage (answer correct to 2 decimal places).
Find the maximum error. This is half the degree of accuracy used (1 L).
Maximum error = 0.5 L
0.5
Percentage error = 65
×100 = 0.77%

Q1. The distance between two towns is given as 45 km, correct to the nearest kilometre.
a) Between what two limits does the true distance lie?
b) What is the greatest possible error in the distance?
c) Write the degree of accuracy in this measurement as a percentage, correct to 2 decimal places.
Q2. For each of the following measurements, write the degree of accuracy as a percentage, correct to 2
decimal places.
a) A person’s mass is given as 67 kg, correct to the nearest kilogram.
b) The capacity of a bucket is 7 L, correct to the nearest litre.
c)The length of a park is said to be 180 m, correct to the nearest 10 m.
d)The volume of water in a tank is 38.6 L, correct to 1 decimal place.
e) The distance between Sydney and Melbourne is 1000 km, correct to the nearest 100 km.
Q3. Janice estimates that it takes 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive to a friend’s house.
a) If Janice’s estimate is to the nearest 10 minutes, between what two lengths of time does it take Janice to
make the journey?
b) What is the maximum error in Janice’s estimate?
c)Find the degree of accuracy of Janice’s estimate, as a percentage, correct to 2 decimal places.
Q4. A paddock needs a fence which is 30 m long and 20 m wide, when measured to the nearest meter the
area is found by multiplying the length by the width.
a)By multiplying the smallest possible length and width, find the smallest possible area.
b) By multiplying the largest possible length and width, find the largest possible area.
c)What is the maximum error in the area of the paddock?

d) Find the percentage error of Area.

 Scientific notation

Example1.

Example2.

Example3. Use the index laws to calculate the following (leave the answers in scientific notation).
a) (3 × 1015) × (6 × 10−7) b) (8 × 10−4) ÷ (2 × 106) c) (5 × 107)3

Do Exercise 6F Cambridge Year 9 Stage 5 core and Advanced Mathematics

 Scientific notation using significant figures

● When rounding to a given number of significant figures, begin counting from the first non-zero digit.
● All digits that are not a zero are significant figures. The first significant figure in a number is the first
digit that is not a zero (reading from left to right). Zeros between non-zero digits are significant. Zeros at
the end of a number may or may not be significant.
Example1.

Example2. Round each number below to:

i) 1 sig fig ii) 2 sig fig iii) 3 sig fig iv) 4 sig fig
a)428.3
b)6238
c)7.819
d)0.5273

Example3.

Example4.

Do Exercise 6G Cambridge Year 9 Stage 5 core and Advanced Mathematics