Measurements in Mathematical World

Measurements in maths play a very crucial role in our day to day life. In earlier times, we used to calculate the distance and lengths by feet or palms, which was not a standard unit of measurement. To overcome this difference, standard scale of measurements was developed. It can be represented in form of a scale as follows:
Milli
Centi
Deci
Unit
Deca
Hecto
Kilo
The above scale shows that milli is the smallest unit and kilo represents the largest unit.  For length measurements meter is the standard unit and the above table can be written as:
Milli Meter
Centi Meter
Deci Meter
Meter
Deca Meter
Hacto Meter
Kilo Meter
In Grade VII, we will learn about converting one unit to another. When we do certain mathematical operations on measurements, the units must be same. So for this reason we need to convert one unit to another. Suppose we need to add 13 mm and 4 cm. In such cases as the units are not same, we need to convert either of the units. If we convert mm to cm, we need to divide it by 10 and if we convert cm to mm, we will multiply it by 10.
So 13 mm becomes 13/10 cm
= 1.3 cm
Now 1.3cm and 4 cm can be added easily.
= 1.3 + 4 cm
= ( 1.3 + 4.0 ) cm
= 5.3 cm Ans
we conclude that in the above table if we convert from upper to lower form the  digits are divided by 10 every time. Eg if mm is to be changed to cm, then divide by 10, mm to deci meter then divide by 100... and so on
Similarly if we move from bottom to top, then we need to multiply by 10 every time. eg: if km is to be converted to hectometer then the digits are multiplied by 10, km to deca meter, then multiply by 100 ... and so on.
In the next topic we are going to discuss Problems in measurements