Measurement and Conversion Worksheets

Practice and master measurement and conversion with our helpful walkthroughs and downloadable practice worksheets from our team of elite math educators.

Meters to Feet

By Crystal Greenfield

A meter is a unit used to describe length in the metric measurement system. A foot is a unit used to describe length in the U.S. customary measurement system. Since they are both units of length, it is possible to use a constant conversion factor to find the equivalent length in the other unit.

Why is this concept useful?

Data collected from different sources will sometimes have different units. Converting all of the data to the same unitary system makes it easier to us

Where does this concept fit into the curriculum?

Grade 6 onward

How can we use the concept:

The ratio between meters and feet is: 1 meter : 3.28084 feet.

3.28084 is a difficult number to calculate with. It can be rounded but the more rounding is used, the less accurate the answer is. An inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters so the best practice when converting between metric and customary length measurements is to convert to centimeters or inches and switch measurement systems using the ratio 1 inch : 2.54 centimeters.

When measurement ratios are written as fractions, units in the denominators will cancel out the same unit in the numerator.

(22=1    metersmeters=1)\left(\frac{2}{2} =1\ \ \ \ \frac{meters}{meters} =1\right)

An organizational technique for converting measurements is to write all the needed ratios as fractions. Line up and flip the fractions so that unneeded units are cancelled out and the desired units are left in the numerator.

Example: Convert 6 meters to feet

100 centimeters1meter    2.54 centimeters1 inch   12 inches1 foot\frac{100\ centimeters}{1meter} \ \ \ \ \frac{2.54\ centimeters}{1\ inch} \ \ \ \frac{12\ inches}{1\ foot}

Start with 6 meters

Meters is in the unit in the numerator, meters won’t be in the answer so it needs to be cancelled. The ratio that has meters is

100 centimeters1meter\frac{100\ centimeters}{1 meter}

. Since meters is currently in the numerator, this ratio will be left as is so that the meter in the denominator cancels the one in the numerator.

6 meters × 100 centimeters1 meter6\ meters\ \times \ \frac{100\ centimeters}{1\ meter}

Now that meters have been cancelled the only unit we have is centimeters. Centimeters is not the unit needed so it also needs to be cancelled. The ratio that has centimeters is

 2.54 centimeters1 inch\ \frac{2.54\ centimeters}{1\ inch}

Centimeters are already in the numerator so this ratio needs to be flipped to

1 inch2.54 centimeters\frac{1\ inch}{2.54\ centimeters}

so that the centimeters will cancel out.

6 meters × 100 centimeters1 meter × 1 inch2.54 centimeters6\ meters\ \times \ \frac{100\ centimeters}{1\ meter} \ \times \ \frac{1\ inch}{2.54\ centimeters}

Sample Math Problems

1. Convert 13 meters to feet using the rounded ratio

3.28 feet1 meter\frac{3.28\ feet}{1\ meter}

Solution: 13 meters x

3.28 feet1 meter\frac{3.28\ feet}{1\ meter}

= 42.64 feet


2. Convert 72 feet to meters using the ratios

100 centimeters1meter    2.54 centimeters1 inch   12 inches1 foot\frac{100\ centimeters}{1meter} \ \ \ \ \frac{2.54\ centimeters}{1\ inch} \ \ \ \frac{12\ inches}{1\ foot}

Solution

Multiply 72 feet by the inches/foot ratio

72 feet x

12 inches1 foot\frac{12\ inches}{1\ foot}

Multiply the meter / centimeters ratio

72 feet x

2.54 centimeters1 inch   12 inches1 foot\frac{2.54\ centimeters}{1\ inch} \ \ \ \frac{12\ inches}{1\ foot}

Multiply by the meters / centimeters ratio:

100 centimeters1meter    2.54 centimeters1 inch   12 inches1 foot\frac{100\ centimeters}{1meter} \ \ \ \ \frac{2.54\ centimeters}{1\ inch} \ \ \ \frac{12\ inches}{1\ foot}

Solve:

72 x 12 x 2.54 x 11 x 1 x 100=2194.56 centimeters1 inch=21.9456\frac{72\ x\ 12\ x\ 2.54\ x\ 1}{1\ x\ 1\ x\ 100} =\frac{2194.56\ centimeters}{1\ inch} =21.9456

rounds to the nearest hundredth 21.95 feet.



3. Kara is building a fence. She ordered twelve 6 foot posts. There was an error in the order and she received twelve 6 meter posts. If she cuts the posts to the size she needs, how many 6 meter posts does she need to finish the fence? Use the ratio

3.28 feet1 meter\frac{3.28\ feet}{1\ meter}

Solution: First find the number of feet in one 6 meter post.

6 meters x

3.28 feet1 meter\frac{3.28\ feet}{1\ meter}

=19.68 feet

Next, find the number of 6 foot posts she can make from one 6 meter post. The remainder can be dropped because she won’t be able to use any wood pieces that are less than 6 feet.

19.68ft ÷ 6 = 3 remainder 1.68

She can make three 6 foot posts from one 6 meter posts. She needs twelve 6 foot posts. Divide the total number of posts needed (12) by the number that can be made from one 6 meter posts (3) to find the number of 6 meter posts needed to complete the project.

12 ÷ 3 = 4

She needs four 6 meter posts to complete the project.

4. Nevaeh has a table that is 3 meters long. She buys a tablecloth that is 3 feet long. How much of her table, in feet, will be uncovered?

Solution:

Since the answer needs to be in feet it makes the most sense to convert meters to feet then find the difference. Use the ratio

3.28 feet1 meter\frac{3.28\ feet}{1\ meter}

3 meters x

3.28 feet1 meter\frac{3.28\ feet}{1\ meter}

=9.84 feet

The difference between 9.84 feet and 3 feet is

9.84 feet - 3 feet = 6.84 feet.

6.84 feet of the table will be uncovered.


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Practice Math Problems

1. Convert 26 feet to meters using the rounded ratio

3.28 feet1 meter\frac{3.28\ feet}{1\ meter}

2. Convert 15 meters to feet using the ratios

100 centimeters1meter    2.54 centimeters1 inch   12 inches1 foot\frac{100\ centimeters}{1meter} \ \ \ \ \frac{2.54\ centimeters}{1\ inch} \ \ \ \frac{12\ inches}{1\ foot}

3. Ethan ordered eight 4 foot panels of cloth to make a stage curtain. An error occurred and he received eight 4 meter panels of cloth. If he cuts the cloth down to the size he needs it, how many 4 meter panels can Ethan return to the store. (He can only return panels that have not been cut.)

4. Geneva ordered a charging cord that was 2 meters long. An error was made and she received a charging cord that was 2 feet long. How much longer, in meters, does her cord need to be? Use the ratio

3.28 feet1 meter\frac{3.28\ feet}{1\ meter}

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