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The word measurement is derived from the Greek word 'metron', which translates to "limited proportion". It is one of the most commonly used mathematical terms in daily life. In the article, we will learn more about measurement.
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Measurement is defined to describe the comparison between an unknown quantity and a known quantity with standard units. It is one of the fundamental building blocks of mathematics that holds great importance, as it allows us to compare and calculate height, length, width, and numerous other physical quantities.
They are represented with certain units for example, meters, kilos, pounds, minutes, seconds, and many more.
The earliest recorded sources of measurement goes back to Ancient Egypt.
Have you ever heard words like meters, liters, grams, feet, inches, pounds, etc.? These are called the units of measurement. They are used to refer physical quantities such as length, weight, volume, etc. Now let’s understand the differences between standard units and non-standard units.
Standard Units |
Non-Standard Units |
Universally accepted |
Not universally accepted. |
Consistent measuring units. |
Measuring units may vary. |
Easy to convert from one unit to another. |
They cannot be converted from one unit to another. |
Examples: Meters, kilometers, seconds, kelvin, etc. |
Examples: Hand span, arm span, cubit, foot span, pace, and finger width. |
Different units and devices are used to measure different objects. The units and devices depend upon the physical properties of the object. A few types of measurement are mentioned below.
The accurate measurement of physical quantities such as weight, angle, and force is almost impossible without the use of instruments. There are specific instruments designed to measure particular physical quantities.
Measurement is incomplete without units. Since units decide the final value of a quantity, it is important to use correct units. For example, it is possible for a single, physical quantity like length to exist in two unitary forms, m and cm. To avoid discrepancies between units and measurement, it is advised to convert all the measurements into a common unit and then solve the problem. Some basic unit conversions are mentioned below.
Length | Weight | Capacity |
\(10 \space mm = 1 \space cm\)
|
\(10 \space mg = 1 \space cg\)
|
\(1 \space mL = 1 \space cL\)
|
Earlier, measurements were not accurate, since they used the human body, stones, and seeds to measure. The lack of standardized units usually led to measurement errors. To avoid such errors, we use standard forms of measurement, such as the metric system and the US standard system (Imperial system).
Metric System |
Imperial System |
Standardized measurement used worldwide. |
The standardized system used mainly in the US. |
Easy for conversion as it is based on the powers of 10. |
Requires memorizing the conversion rates. |
Units: Kilometers, kilograms, and liters. |
Units: Inches, ounces, and cups. |
We use different units of measurements for each physical quantity. For an easier understanding of units of measurement in the two systems, you can refer to the measurement chart.
Physical Quantities |
Units |
Abbreviation |
Length |
Millimeter |
mm |
Weight |
Milligrams |
mg |
Capacity |
Milliliters |
ml |
Physical Quantities |
Units |
Abbreviation |
Length |
Inches |
inch |
Weight |
Ounces |
oz |
Capacity |
Fluid ounce |
fl oz |
The conversion formulas for metric to US standard system and vice versa can be obtained from the following chart:
When measuring any object, we need to follow certain rules. Some basic rules and properties of measurement are:
Begin your journey into the realm of measurement by exploring the key concepts listed below:
Whenever we measure, the measurement should be accurate and precise. As we have learned all about measurements now, let's see some tips and tricks to master measurement.
Learning measurement is essential to know about volume, area, shapes, angles, and many other branches of math. So, for a better understanding, let’s check out some common mistakes in measurements and ways to avoid them.
Measurement is all around us. We use it in the fields of construction, cooking, sports, and so on. Let’s explore how we use measurement in the real world.
Tom wants to tile his garden, the length of each side of the square garden is 5200 mm. The cost of tiling 1 square meter of the garden is $2. How much is the total cost?
The total cost for tiling the garden is $54.08.
Given:
Area of the garden = \(s^2 = (5.2)^2 = 27.04 m^2\)
Total cost = \(27.04 × 2 = $54.08\)
Harry needs 5 kg of flour, but in the shop, they only sell flour in packets of 200 grams. Calculate how many packets of flour Harry needs to buy.
The total number of flour packets that Harry needs to buy is 25.
Given:
Since, \(1kg = 1000g\)
Total flour Harry needs in grams \(= 5 × 1000 = 5000 g\)
Number of packets required \(= 5000 ÷ 200 = 25\)
Harry needs to buy 25 packets of flour.
The dimensions of a room are 10 ft, 22 ft, and 34 ft. Find the volume of the room.
The volume of the room is 7,480 ft3.
Given:
Volume \(= 34 × 22 × 10 = 7480 ft^3\)
Therefore, the volume is 7480 ft3.
A boy’s height is 165 cm. Express the height in meters.
1.65 meters.
To convert the height from centimeters to meters, we divide it by 100 because 1 meter is 100 centimeters.
So, 165 centimeters in meters \(= {165 \over {100}} = 1.65 \space \text {meters}\)
The area of a square park is 64 m². Calculate its perimeter.
32 meters.
The formula for area of a square is side2
Therefore,
Side \(= { \sqrt{area} }\)
Side \(= {\sqrt{64} }\)
Side \(= 8 \space m\)
Now, the perimeter of square \(= 4 × side\)
Perimeter \(= 4 × 8 \)
Perimeter \(= 32 \space m\)
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Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.
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