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Sometimes we need to change how we measure things. In math, we call this converting. We do this when we want to compare different sizes.
To change a larger unit to a smaller unit, we multiply. For example, one big foot is made of twelve small inches. We multiply the feet by twelve to find the total inches.
Think of a main character in a story who grows taller. Their height changes, but they are still the same person! Units change their names, but the total length stays exactly the same.
✏️ Worked example
Sally has a piece of rope that is 4 yards long. She wants to know how many feet of rope she has. Let's find out together!
Identify the starting unit and the target unit. We are starting with yards and converting to feet.
Recall the conversion rule. We know that 1 yard is equal to 3 feet.
Decide whether to multiply or divide. Since yards are larger than feet, we multiply.
Multiply the number of yards by the conversion factor: 4 yards times 3 feet per yard.
Calculate the final answer: 4 times 3 equals 12. Sally has 12 feet of rope!
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