--- title: "Unit Conversions" description: "Convert freely between related standard units of measurement (time, length, area, volume/capacity, mass) using decimal notation to up to three decimal places where appropriate" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/unit-conversions-mt_tpT9brpI6D source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/unit-conversions-mt_tpT9brpI6D.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Unit Conversions Convert freely between related standard units of measurement (time, length, area, volume/capacity, mass) using decimal notation to up to three decimal places where appropriate Subject: Mathematics · Area: Ratio & Proportion · Ages 11 to 12 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/unit-conversions-mt_tpT9brpI6D ## Ready when they can - Convert between area units such as cm² and m² using the square of the linear scale factor - Perform multi-step conversions (e.g. convert 2.5 hours to seconds via minutes) - Convert volume units such as cm³ to litres and explain the relationship ## Lesson: Converting Between Units Units come in families: length (mm, cm, m, km), mass (g, kg), time (s, min, h), and volume (mL, L, cm³). To move between units in the same family, multiply or divide by a conversion factor. For example, 1 m equals 100 cm, so multiplying a length in metres by 100 gives you centimetres. *(drawing: Scale each side of a square by 3, and the area grows by 3 × 3 = 9, not just 3. That is why area units use the squared scale factor.)* **Example.** To convert 1.5 hours to seconds, work step by step. First change hours to minutes: 1.5 × 60 = 90 minutes. Then change minutes to seconds: 90 × 60 = 5400 seconds. Going straight from hours to seconds in one jump is easy to get wrong, so build the bridge through minutes. **Example.** A square metre is 100 cm on each side, so it holds 100 × 100 = 10,000 square centimetres. Whenever you convert an area unit, square the linear scale factor first, then multiply. Volume units connect too: 1 cm³ of water fills exactly 1 millilitre, and 1000 cm³ make 1 litre. Before you convert, find the connecting fact between the two units, then multiply or divide by it. **Recap.** To convert units, find the connecting fact, work through it step by step, and square the scale factor for area. ## Practice 15 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Converting units with decimal notation](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/converting-units-with-decimal-notation-mt_2VpdPjvewx) - [Miles & Kilometres](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/miles-and-kilometres-mt_3tPI0HqqcN) - [Proportional Reasoning Vocabulary](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/proportional-reasoning-vocabulary-mt_ATYLKt0je-) - [Measurement Conversions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/measurement-conversions-mt_SqhXQhAEUf) ## Opens up - [Scale drawings and maps](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/scale-drawings-and-maps-mt_1badik7iKJ) - [Compound Units](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/compound-units-mt_kLQOzZYrd5)