Measurement
2026-02-28 01:21 Diff
https://brightchamps.com/en-us/math/measurement

1238 Learners

The word measurement is derived from the Greek word 'metron', which translates to "limited proportion". It is one of the most commonly used mathematical terms in daily life. In the article, we will learn more about measurement.

Trustpilot | Rated 4.7

Math

Math Calculators

Math Formulas

Math Worksheets

What is Measurement in Math?

What Is Measurement? 📏 | Easy Tricks, Units & 🎯 Fun Learning for Kids | ✨BrightCHAMPS Math

▶

Measurement is defined to describe the comparison between an unknown quantity and a known quantity with standard units. It is one of the fundamental building blocks of mathematics that holds great importance, as it allows us to compare and calculate height, length, width, and numerous other physical quantities. 

They are represented with certain units for example, meters, kilos, pounds, minutes, seconds, and many more. 

Parent Tip: Ask your child to guess their height without measuring? Now, measure it. This is called measurement.  

History of Measurement

The earliest recorded sources of measurement goes back to Ancient Egypt.

In the early 3000 BCE, the Egyptians used measurement as a technique to build pyramids and other structures. They coined the term "cubit" (the length of the forearm). It was built out of a black granite rod, which they even used to measure ropes and rocks. 

Later, in approximately 2500 BCE, the Babylonians developed the earliest unitary system for length and weight. After the Babylonians, around 500 BCE, the Romans created a system of measurement based on the distance covered on foot by the soldiers, which was also adapted by the Egyptians.

However, none of these were standard measurement units that were followed globally. The real evolution in the field of measurement came when France introduced the metric system in 1795.

The metric system, introduced by France, was widely adopted by many other European countries, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of standardized measurement.

The next step in the evolution of measurement and standardizing units for global acceptance occurred in 1960, when the SI system of units was introduced. Since then, there have been more developments that have enhanced the quality of measurement we experience today.

The developed version of SI unit is the metric system. Today, most of the countries follow SI except some countries like the US, Liberia, and Myanmar. 
 

Measurement Units

Have you ever heard words like meters, liters, grams, feet, inches, pounds, etc.? These are called the units of measurement. They are used to referring to physical quantities such as length, weight, volume, etc.

These units are divided into standard units (SI) and non-standard units. Now let’s understand the differences between standard units and non-standard units. 

Standard Units

Non-Standard Units

Universally accepted

Not universally accepted.

Consistent measuring units.

Measuring units may vary.

Easy to convert from one unit to another.

They cannot be converted from one unit to another.

Examples: Meters, kilometers, seconds, kelvin, etc.

Examples: Hand span, arm span, cubit, foot span, pace, and finger width.

Explore Our Programs

Types of Measurement

Different units and devices are used to measure different objects. The units and devices depend upon the physical properties of the object. A few types of measurement are mentioned below.

  • Length Measurement: The distance between two points is called its length. Kilometers, meter, feet, inches, and so on are the units of length.
  • Weight Measurement: Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity. The units of weight are grams, kilograms, pounds, tons, etc. 
  • Time Measurement: Time is measured in seconds, minutes, hours, weeks, months, and years. Time is about the period of an event, which can be past, present, or future.
  • Volume Measurement: Volume is the amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object. The units used are liter, milliliter, quart, and gallon. In geometry, we also calculate the Volume of cone, Volume of sphere, Volume of hemisphere, and the Total surface area of cuboid. These concepts help us understand how much space a 3D object occupies, such as water in a tank or air inside a balloon.
  • Temperature Measurement: The amount of hotness or coldness of any object is the temperature. We usually measure temperature in either Celsius or Fahrenheit.
  • Area Measurement: The space occupied by an object in a two-dimensional space is the area. Area is measured in square units. Like square centimeters (cm2), square meters (m2), and square kilometers (km2). Different shapes have their own area formulas. For example, we can find the Area of triangle, Area of square, Area of rectangle, Area of parallelogram, Area of rhombus, Area of quadrilateral, and Area of equilateral triangle using specific mathematical rules. 
  • Angle Measurement: Angle measurement is a process where we find the size of rotation, which is formed when two rays or lines meet at a common point. The units used to measure angles are degrees and radians. Similarly, the Perimeter of triangle, Perimeter of square, and Perimeter of semicircle help measure the total boundary length of shapes.

Measurement Instruments

The accurate measurement of physical quantities such as weight, angle, and force is almost impossible without the use of instruments. There are specific instruments designed to measure particular physical quantities.

  • Measurement Tape: Measurement tape is the instrument used to measure the length. Units such as millimeters, centimeters, meters, inches, etc., are usually present on the tape depending upon its type. 
  • Pendulum Clock: Time is measured using instruments such as clocks, watches, and pendulums. The units of time are seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, etc. Some of the examples of time measurement instruments used from ancient time to present days can be seen in the following image.
  • Weight Machine: Weighing machines are used to measure the weight of an object. Weighing machines can be analog or digital. The units for measuring weight are kilograms, grams, milligrams, etc. The following images show some of the instruments used for measuring weight.
     

Measurement Conversion Formulas

Measurement is incomplete without units. Since units decide the final value of a quantity, it is important to use correct units. For example, it is possible for a single, physical quantity like length to exist in two unitary forms, m and cm.

To avoid discrepancies between units and measurement, it is advised to convert all the measurements into a common unit and then solve the problem. Some basic unit conversions are mentioned below.

Length Weight Capacity

\(10 \space mm = 1 \space cm\)


\(100 \space cm = 1 \space m\)


\(1000 \space m = 1 \space km\)

\(10 \space mg = 1 \space cg\)


\(100 \space cg = 1 \space g\)


\(1000 \space g = 1 \space kg\)

\(10 \space mL = 1 \space cL\)


\(​​​​100 \space cL = 1 \space L\)


\(1000 \space L = 1 \space kL\)

Units of Measurement

Earlier, measurements were not accurate, since they used the human body, stones, and seeds to measure. The lack of standardized units usually led to measurement errors.

To avoid such errors, we use standard forms of measurement, such as the metric system and the US standard system (Imperial system). 

Metric System

Imperial System

 Standardized measurement used worldwide.

The standardized system used mainly in the US.

Easy for conversion as it is based on the powers of 10.

Requires memorizing the conversion rates.

Units: Kilometers, kilograms, and liters. 

Units: Inches, ounces, and cups.

Measurement Chart

We use different units of measurements for each physical quantity. For an easier understanding of units of measurement in the two systems, you can refer to the measurement chart.

For metric system

Physical Quantities

Units

Abbreviation

Length

Millimeter
Centimeter
Meters
Kilometers

mm
cm
m
km

Weight

Milligrams
centigrams
Grams
Kilograms

mg
cg
g
kg

Capacity

Milliliters
Centiliter
Liters
kiloliter

ml
cl
l
kl

For the US standard system

Physical Quantities

Units

Abbreviation

Length

Inches
Feet
Yards
miles

inch
ft
yd
mi

Weight

Ounces
Pounds
Ton

oz
lb
t

Capacity

Fluid ounce
Cup
Pint
Quarts
Gallon 

fl oz
c
pt
qt
gal

The conversion formulas for metric to US standard system and vice versa can be obtained from the following chart:

Basic Rules and Properties of Measurement

Tips and Tricks to Master Measurement

Whenever we measure, the measurement should be accurate and precise. As we have learned all about measurements now, let's see some tips and tricks to master measurement.

  1. Understanding basic units: Students should try to learn and memorize the basic standardized units of measurement. 
  2. Using measuring tools effectively: For each physical quantity, we have different measuring tools. So, when measuring, try to use the correct measurement tools.
  3. Converting units at the start of calculation: Units should be converted at the start of calculations to avoid confusions and discrepancies in measurement. Similar units of the same measurement system give accurate and precise answers.
  4. Converting between units: It is important to be extremely careful when converting units, as units decide the final value of the solution. Applying the wrong units and using incorrect formula can lead to wrong answers. 
  5. Be careful while adding units to the final values: After measurement or calculations, it is crucial to apply the correct units at the end because a particular unit defines certain physical quantities.

    For example, if the unit radian is applied in place of degree, it changes the entire value of the measured quantity.

  6. When learning about area and volume, start with simple shapes like the area of a rectangle or the volume of a cone, then move on to complex ones like the total surface area of a cuboid or the volume of a sphere.

  7. Always double-check your units for instance, use square units for area of parallelogram or area of rhombus, and cubic units for volume of hemisphere or volume of cone.

Parent Tip: You can use measurement calculator for encouraging your child to practice mathematical problems related to measurement.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them in Measurement

Learning measurement is essential to know about volume, area, shapes, angles, and many other branches of math. So, for a better understanding, let’s check out some common mistakes in measurements and ways to avoid them.

Real-World Applications of Measurement

Measurement is all around us. We use it in the fields of construction, cooking, sports, and so on. Let’s explore how we use measurement in the real world.

  1. Construction: In the field of construction, we need accurate measurements of the length, width, and height of the building.

    For example, building a house of height 12 feet.

  2. Sports: In sports, we use measurement to measure the field of play, performance of athletes, number of players, scores, etc.

    For example, a football team has a total of 11 players.

  3. Cooking: While cooking, we use units to measure the amount of ingredients.

    For example, adding 2 ml of vanilla essence.

  4. Traveling: While traveling from destination A to B, the distance between the two is measured to calculate the ETA.

    For example, the distance from New York to LA is 3974 km.

  5. Medicinal Purposes: Dosages of medicines need to be measured precisely before they are administered to the patients.

    For example, WHO recommends 70 and 100 mg/dL of fasting glucose (varies).

Download Worksheets

Problem 1

Tom wants to tile his garden, the length of each side of the square garden is 5200 mm. The cost of tiling 1 square meter of the garden is $2. How much is the total cost?

Okay, lets begin

The total cost for tiling the garden is \($54.08\).

Explanation

Given: 
 

  • The length of the garden = \(5200\) mm
  • Cost of tiles per square meter = $2
  • Length of the garden in meter = \(5200 ÷ 1000 = 5.2 m\)


Area of the garden = \(s^2 = (5.2)^2 = 27.04 m^2\)


Total cost = \(27.04 × 2 = $54.08\)

Well explained 👍

Problem 2

Harry needs 5 kg of flour, but in the shop, they only sell flour in packets of 200 grams. Calculate how many packets of flour Harry needs to buy.

Okay, lets begin

The total number of flour packets that Harry needs to buy is 25.

Explanation

Given:
 

  • Total flour needed = 5 kg
  • The weight of flour in each packet = 200g

Since, \(1kg = 1000g\)

Total flour Harry needs in grams \(= 5 × 1000 = 5000 g\)

Number of packets required \(= 5000 ÷ 200 = 25\)

Harry needs to buy 25 packets of flour.

Well explained 👍

Problem 3

The dimensions of a room are 10 ft, 22 ft, and 34 ft. Find the volume of the room.

Okay, lets begin

The volume of the room is \(7,480\) ft3.

Explanation

Given:
 

  • Volume of rectangular room \(= L × W × H\)
  • Here, \( L = 34 \space \text ft\)
  • \(W = 22 \space \text {ft}\)
  • \(H= 10 \space \text {ft}\)

Volume \(= 34 × 22 × 10 = 7480 ft^3\)

Therefore, the volume is 7480 ft3.

Well explained 👍

Problem 4

A boy’s height is 165 cm. Express the height in meters.

Okay, lets begin

1.65 meters.

Explanation

To convert the height from centimeters to meters, we divide it by 100 because 1 meter is 100 centimeters.

So, 165 centimeters in meters \(= {165 \over {100}} = 1.65 \space \text {meters}\)

Well explained 👍

Problem 5

The area of a square park is 64 m². Calculate its perimeter.

Okay, lets begin

32 meters.

Explanation

The formula for area of a square is side2

Therefore,  

Side \(= { \sqrt{area} }\)

Side \(= {\sqrt{64} }\)

Side \(= 8 \space m\)

Now, the perimeter of the square \(= 4 × side\)

Perimeter  \(= 4 × 8 \)

Perimeter \(= 32 \space m\)
 

Well explained 👍

FAQs on Measurements

1.What are the seven basic SI of measurement that my child needs to know?

The basic metric units for measurements that your child needs to know are as follows:

  • Meter (m) for length
     
  • Kilogram (kg) for weight
     
  • Seconds (s) for time 
     
  • Ampere (A) for electricity
     
  • Kelvin (k) for temperature 
     
  • Mole (mol) for amount of substance 
     
  • Candela (cd) for luminous intensity. 
     

2.What are the three types of measurement that children should know?

The three standard types of measurements that children should know are:

  • The International System of Units
  • The US Customary System
  • The British Imperial System 

3.How can my child measure time?

Children can measure time by using units like hours, minutes and seconds.

4.Which symbol can by child use to represent foot?

Children can use ft to represent foot.

5.Why is measurement important for my child?

Measurement is important because it allows us to compare and standardize physical quantities such as length, width, height, etc. It is not just related to math problems, it has various real life applications as well, and that makes it an important concept, especially for children.
 

6.Mention five uses of measurement for children.

Here are five uses of measurement for children:

  1. Counting the number of cookies in a packet.
  2. Counting the toys they have.
  3. Measuring their height.
  4. Measuring anyone's weight.
  5. Measuring time.
     

7.What are the functions of measurement that my child should know?

The basic functions of measurement are to compare quantities, quantify them numerically, record the results, and represent physical quantities in terms of standard units.

8.Mention the two properties of measurement that children should learn?

The two main properties of measurement that children should learn are accuracy and precision. The main purpose of measurement is to provide accurate and precise values of physical quantities.

9.Mention three things that my child measure in everyday life.

Three things that children measure in everyday life are weight, height, and temperature.
 

Explore More Math Topics

Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana

About the Author

Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.

Fun Fact

: She loves to read number jokes and games.