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Grade 6 Math · Level 2, Ratios, Rates & Percent

Convert Measurement Units with Ratios

How the lesson starts: Convert Measurement Units with Ratios

1. Gigi's name sign

   Hi there! Zookeeper Ivy is making a name sign for Gigi the giraffe. Gigi is 16 feet tall. But the sign maker wants her height in inches! To switch units, we'll use a ratio called a conversion factor.

2. Feet and inches

   1 foot is 12 inches. Each hop is 1 foot, and it lands 12 inches further. 1 foot: 12 inches. 2 feet: 24 inches. 3 feet: 36 inches. Every foot adds 12 inches, so to change feet to inches, multiply by 12.

3. The conversion factor

   12 inches over 1 foot equals 1, because they're the same length. Multiply 16 feet by this fraction. Feet on top and feet on the bottom cancel, leaving inches. 16 × 12 = 192 inches. Watch out: 1 foot over 12 inches puts feet on top twice, so nothing cancels!