Problem Solving with Measures

Maths: Year 5 & 6 National Curriculum, topic 8.1.1

Remembering Key Facts

You need to remember some key facts in order to answer problem solving questions in measures. Let's recap some of the key facts:

Conversion of units

Conversion of units

Remember that:
1,000 g = 1 kg
1,000 m = 1 km
1,000 ml = 1 l

Units of length

Units of length

Remember that:
10 mm = 1 cm
100 cm = 1 m
1,000 m = 1 km

Problem Solving Questions in Measures

Let's have a look at some examples of problem solving questions involving measures before you can have a go at your own.

Question 1

Question 1

When Year 6 measure the length of different ropes they find one is 1.3 m long.
The other is 500 cm long.
What is the total length of both of these ropes?

First step

First step

Both lengths need to be in the same units to be able to add them together.
Convert the length of rope 2 into metres.

Then add the rope lengths

Then add the rope lengths

Now that the rope lengths are in the same units, you can add them together.
The total length of both ropes is 1.3 m + 5 m = 6.3 m

Question 2

Question 2

There are 3 children swimming lengths in a swimming pool.
One child swims 50.7 m, another swims 4700 cm and the other swims 10 m.
How far did the children swim altogether?

First step

First step

All distances need to be in the same units to be able to add them together.
Convert child 2's distance into metres

Then add the distances

Then add the distances

Now that the distances are in the same units, you can add them together.
The total distance the children swam is 50.7 m + 47 m + 10 m = 107.7 m
You could use column addition to work out the answer.

Test yourself on Problem Solving with Measures

How many centimetres are in 1 m?
How many millimetres are in 1 cm?
How many metres are in 1 km?
How many grams are in 1 kg?
How many millilitres are in 1 l?

Practise this topic for free