Directorate: Curriculum FET

SUBJECT and GRADE Mathematical Literacy gr.11

TERM 2 Week 6
TOPIC Measurement
AIMS OF LESSON The following sections will be covered:
• Measuring length and distance
• Measuring weight
• Measuring temperature
• Measuring Volume
RESOURCES Paper based resources Digital resources
• Via Africa p.79-84 Length & Distance:
• Mind the Gap p79-91 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN7lKUiq0LA
• Study & Master: p. 261 – 317 Weight:
o Revise & Consolidate: p. 318 – 321 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd6Y3c0LePM
• Or go to measuring length & distance, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivAD44nh0D0
mass, volume & temperature in your Temperature:
textbook. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvjfJfGhCxs
Volume:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgGhm8afoGc
INTRODUCTION • In this week you will have to refer to work done in week 1 of term 1 when you revised conversion of
units.
• It is extremely important to work accurately and to choose the correct tool as well as unit when
measuring
• NEW WORK – calculating and classifying BMI
CONCEPTS AND Measuring length and distance
SKILLS
In this section you need to:
 Determine length and/or distance using:
o ‘rule of thumb’ method.
o measuring instruments.
o Trundle wheels
o Odometers
Estimating length & distance using the Rule of thumb
The rule of thumb: approximate/reliable method of estimating lengths/distances. Knowing the approximate
lengths of our body parts enables us to estimate most lengths and distances.
➢ The foot is approximately 30 cm
➢ The thumb is approximately 2,5 cm
➢ A step is approximately 1 m
➢ The distance from the shoulder to the fingertips of the outstretched opposite arm is about 1 m

Instruments for measuring length

Short to medium lengths are measured using:
Tape measures: different lengths 1,5 m; 2 m; 20 m; 100 m
Rulers

Measuring length and distance

Distances are longer lengths; they are measured using:
 Trundle wheel: It is designed to cover 1 metre in a full turn, i.e. its circumference is 1 m. It is useful to
measure distances that are not straight.
 Odometers: are instruments fixed in vehicles, they measure the distance the vehicle moves in
kilometres.
Measuring mass/weight
In this section you should be able to:
 Determine mass of different objects using scales
 Choose the most suitable scale for measuring masses of different objects.
 Select a suitable unit for measuring different objects.
 Calculate and interpret Body mass index
Types of Scales

Scales vary in size and sensitivity depending on what they are designed to measure. They range from the
smallest and extremely sensitive for measuring small masses such as mass of gold which is measured in ounces
to the largest weigh bridge designed to measure very big objects like truckloads in tonnes.
• Kitchen scale: Unit – grams
• Bathroom scale: Unit – kilograms
• Weigh bridge: Unit- tonnes

Units of measurement
Examples:
What is the suitable unit for measuring?
(a) Mass of an apple
(b) your body mass
(c) Mass of lorry and its load
Answers
(a) gram
(b) kilogram
(c) tonnes

Body Mass index(BMI)

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a calculated value that takes into account the height and weight of an adult and can
be used to determine the weight status of the adult. The formula for calculating BMI is:

𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐤𝐠
𝐁𝐌𝐈 =
(𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬)𝟐

Men and women are the categorized on separate tables according to their BMI:

Notice that the units for a BMI value are kg/m2 → “kilograms per square metres”. In other words, BMI
represents a comparison of an adult’s weight to the surface area (i.e.m2 ) of their body.

The following table of BMI intervals and corresponding weight status categories can then be used to determine
the weight status of an adult with a particular BMI value:

Example:
Consider an adult with a height of 1,75 m and a weight of 82 kg.

82kg
BMI =
(1,75m)2
= 26,78kg/m2
According to the table of BMI intervals and weight status categories above, this adult would be classified as
being overweight.
Measuring Temperature
Temperature is often mentioned in varying contexts. It can be an indicator of ill-health and is an important
weather element.
In the home, temperature is important for heating systems such as stove, oven, iron and cooling systems such as
refrigerators, air conditioner.

Thermometers:
Different thermometers and temperature dials are used for various purposes. The units of temperature are:
 Degrees Celsius (°C)
 Degrees Fahrenheit (°F)

Conversion of units of Temperature

Use the conversion formula:
°F = (1,8 x °C) + 32
°C = (°F – 32) ÷ 1,8

Example:
Convert:
1. 8 °C to °F 2. 104°F to °C
Answer:
1. °F = (1,8 x °C) + 32 2. °C = (°F – 32) ÷ 1,8
= (1,8x 8) + 32 = (104 – 32) ÷ 1,8
= 14,4 +32 = 72 ÷ 1,8
= 46,4°C = 40 °C

Measuring Volume
Volume is a measurement of the amount of space that a container holds. Capacity is the measurement of
VOLUME when a container is filled completely. Example: a 500ml bottle contains 200ml water. The capacity
of the bottle is 500ml, while the volume of the water in the bottle is 200ml.
When measuring volume, it important to be accurate, especially when working with small volumes e.g. When
measuring paracetamol for a baby with a fever.

Tools for measuring:

Measuring spoons Measuring cups

 Measuring jug Syringe

Important conversions:
1cup = 250ml
1 teaspoon = 5ml
1 tablespoon = 15ml

Example:
Jonathan uses the following recipe to make chocolate muffins:
2
cup of baking cocoa
3
2 large eggs
2 cups of flour
1
cup of sugar
2
2 teaspoons of baking soda
1
1 3 cups of milk
1
cup of sunflower oil
3
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
1
teaspoon of salt
2

1. If 1 teaspoon = 5 mℓ, calculate how much baking soda Jonathan will use. Give your answer in mℓ.
2. Calculate the amount of vanilla essence Jonathan will use in this recipe. Give your answer in mℓ.
3. Jonathan does not own measuring cups, but he does own a measuring jug calibrated in mℓ. How many mℓ of
flour does he need? (1 cup = 250 mℓ)
4. If Jonathan buys a 100 mℓ bottle of vanilla essence, how many times will he be able to use the same bottle, if
he bakes the same number of muffins each time?
5. The recipe above is used to make 30 muffins. Calculate how many cups of flour Jonathan will need to make
45 muffins.
 Solutions
1. 10 mℓ
2. 5 mℓ
3. 500 mℓ
4. 20 times
5. He will need 3 cups of flour.

ACTIVITIES Activity 1
Look at the pictures below and give the measurement and the appropriate unit of measurement for each picture.
a) b)

𝒎𝒍

𝒎𝒍

b) d)

𝑚
𝑙

𝑚 𝑐𝑚
𝑙

e)
Solutions:
a) 6,62 ml
b) 25degrees Celcius
c) 73 ml
d) 82,2cm
e) 110 km/h

Activity 2
At your gym everyone’s BMI is calculated every three months.
When you joined the gym, your length was 1769 mm and your mass was 94,2kg. 3 Months later your mass
was 87,3kg.

1. Calculate your weight status when joining

2. Calculate if your weight classification changed 3 months after joining.
3. Challenge: How many kilograms should you still lose before your weight can be classified as normal?
𝑘𝑔
Formula: BMI = 𝑚2
 BMI (kg/m2) Weight classification

< 18,5 Underweight

18,5 - 24,9 Normal

25,0 – 29,9 Overweight

30,0 – 34,9 Obese

35,0 – 39,9 Very obese

≥ 40,0 Extremely obese

Solutions:
94,2
1. BMI = 1,7692 = 30,1 Obese
Catch! Always convert length to
87,3
meters!
2. BMI =1,7692 = 27,9 Overweight

𝑘𝑔
3. 24,9 = 1,7692
Kg = 24,9 x 1,7692
= 77,9 kg

Weight to lose: 87,3 - 77,9 =9,4kg

CONSOLIDATION At this stage you should:

• Have a clear understanding of measurement
• Know when to use specific measuring instruments
• Be able to convert units of measurement
• Be able to calculate BMI and classify a person’s weight according to their BMI