Hi there! Today we are going to explore how we measure the world around us using two different systems of measurement.
We use different units to measure length, weight, and capacity. The Customary system is used mostly in the United States, while the Metric system is used all around the world.
The Customary system uses inches, feet, and yards for length. For example, a standard ruler is 12 inches long, which is exactly equal to 1 foot.
The Metric system is based on tens, making it very easy to multiply and divide. It uses millimeters, centimeters, and meters for length.
✏️ Worked example
Determine which unit is larger: 1 inch or 1 centimeter. Explain your thinking step-by-step.
Find a standard school ruler that shows both inches and centimeters side-by-side.
Look at the space between 0 and 1 on the inch side of the ruler.
Look at the space between 0 and 1 on the centimeter side of the ruler.
Compare the two spaces. You will see that the space for 1 inch is much wider than the space for 1 centimeter.
Conclude that 1 inch is larger than 1 centimeter. In fact, 1 inch is about equal to 2.54 centimeters!
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