3.1. Units of Measurement http://www.ck12.org
3.1 Units of Measurement
Lesson Objectives
- Distinguish between a quantity, a unit, and a measurement standard.
- Distinguish between base units and derived units.
- Perform calculations using the SI system of measurement, with the use of appropriate prefixes.
- Name the SI units for length, mass, time, volume, and density.
- Describe the concepts of magnitude and scale and how they relate to measurement.
- Use scientific notation to report very small and very large numbers.
- Be able to perform calculations with numbers that are reported in scientific notation.
Lesson Vocabulary
- Systeme International (SI): A common metric system of units of measurement used by scientists.
- base unit: A measurement that has its own independent scale and cannot be expressed in terms of other base
units. - derived unit: A measurement that is a combination of base units.
- conversion factor: A factor used in solving problems in which a certain measurement must be expressed with
different units. - dimensional analysis: A technique that uses the units (dimensions) of the measurement in order to express
quantities in the appropriate units. - scientific notation: A way to express very large and very small numbers as the product of two numbers: a
coefficient and the number 10 raised to a power.
Check your Understanding
- What will it cost to carpet a room if the room is 10 feet wide and 12 feet long? The carpet costs $12.51 per
square yard.
(a) $166.80
(b) $175.90
(c) $184.30
(d) $189.90
(e) $19.20- What is the volume in cubic centimeters of the following cylinder, given that the lengths are expressed in
centimeters?