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5th grade math · Unit 12: Converting measurements

Regroup by the unit, not by ten

What this lesson shows

Fixes a mistake

3 feet − 6 inches is 2 feet 6 inches, not 2 feet 4 inches. A foot is 12 inches.

The worked example

The lesson works this one step by step: 3 feet − 6 inches. Then your kid tries one like it on paper.

The steps

  1. Not by ten
  2. Regroup by the unit
  3. Then subtract

Helping at home

When you subtract measures and need more of the small unit, regroup 1 big unit by its own size: 1 foot is 12 inches, 1 hour is 60 minutes, 1 pound is 16 ounces, 1 gallon is 4 quarts. Never by 10.

If your kid gets stuck

How many small units make one big one?

Watch it with Lux

With Lux, this lesson is a narrated video and a printed page your kid works on. Then Lux helps with the same math on their own worksheet, one question at a time.

See how Lux works

Standards

  • Common Core 5.MD.A.1
    Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system (e.g., convert 5 cm to 0.05 m), and use these conversions in solving multi-step, real world problems.
Matches standards in 49 statesSee each state's code

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