Grade 10 — Mathematics 10C › C10U01 Measurement Systems & Conversions

Grade 10 › C10U01 Measurement Systems & Conversions › L2
GRADE 10 · ALBERTAOUTCOME AB-MAT10C-M1

L2 · The Imperial System: Linear Measurement in Fractions of an Inch

Learning goal

“I can use inches, feet, yards, and miles with a personal referent for each; read a measurement in fractions of an inch (halves, quarters, eighths, sixteenths); and convert within the imperial system, keeping imperial answers in fraction form.”

Imperial system — the inch/foot/yard/mile system, still used daily in Canadian construction, lumber, and cooking, and officially in the US.
Inch (in) — about the width of your thumb at the knuckle; 12 of them make a foot.
Foot (ft) — 12 inches; about the length of an adult's foot or a standard ruler.
Yard (yd) — 3 feet = 36 inches; about the height of a doorknob - nearly a metre.
Worked example

A bookshelf is measured as 5 ft 8 in. Express it in inches. Feet first: 5 x 12 = 60 in. Then add the extra inches: 60 + 8 = 68 in. Say it plainly: a mixed measure (feet + inches) is two units glued together - convert the big unit, then add the small one. Referents: your thumb (in), your foot (ft), the doorknob (yd), a 20-minute walk (mi).

Check yourself — explain it

In 5 ft 8 in, why do we multiply the 5 by 12 before adding the 8?

Paired problem — example still visible

3 ft 4 in -> inches -> 40 in

Faded completion — last step is yours

"2 yd 1 ft: yards to feet is 2 x 3 = 6 ft, then 6 + 1 = ___ ft" -> 7 ft

Ready to practise?

10 scored questions with a 3-rung hint ladder. Mastery needs 8/10 plus both gate questions.

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