Year 2: Litres and millilitres
Part of the Year 2 length, mass, capacity and temperature chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Litres and millilitres
Capacity tells us how much a container can hold.
A millilitre is a small amount. We write it as ml. Use ml for a glass of milk.
A litre is a bigger amount. We write it as l. Use l for a big bottle of water.
There are 1000 ml in 1 litre.
Key ideas
- ml means millilitres. Use it for small amounts.
- l means litres. Use it for bigger amounts.
- 1 litre = 1000 ml.
- Read the number at the water line.
Method. Each l is 1000 ml. Multiply.
- Know the rule. 1 l is the same as 1000 ml.1 l = 1000 ml
- Multiply. Multiply the number of l by 1000.1 × 1000 = 1000
- Write the answer. 1000
Check. Share it back: 1000 ml is 1 lots of 1000 ml. ✓
Watch out. Multiply when you change to a smaller unit. There are 1000 ml in 1 l.
Method. Find the difference by taking the smaller amount away from the bigger one.
- Find the bigger amount. The bigger amount is 1000 ml.1000 ml
- Find the smaller amount. The smaller amount is 600 ml.600 ml
- Take the smaller amount away. Subtract to find the difference.1000 − 600 = 400
- Write the answer. 400
Check. Add the difference back: 600 + 400 = 1000. ✓
Watch out. Start with the bigger number, then take the smaller one away.
Method. Change to the same unit, then pick the biggest amount.
- Look at glass. glass is 200 ml.glass: 200 ml
- Look at bottle. bottle is 1 l.bottle: 1000 ml
- Pick the one with the biggest amount. Once the units match, the numbers can be compared.bottle wins
- Write the answer. bottle
Check. Compare the other amounts too. ✓
Watch out. Read the units first. 2 m is longer than 150 cm, because 2 m = 200 cm.
Watch out
Watch out: 1 litre is more than 900 ml.
Change litres to millilitres before you compare.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Pour water from a 1 litre jug into a glass. Ask: “Is this a millilitre or a litre?”
Exercise 5E Litres and millilitres
Non-calculatorMethod. Think about the size of the thing before you choose the unit.
- Think about how big it is. A glass of milk is a small amount.a glass of milk
- Choose the unit that fits. ml is the right size for a glass of milk.ml
- Write the answer. ml
Check. Would another unit feel right? No. ✓
Watch out. Small things use small units. Big things use big units.
Method. Think about the size of the thing before you choose the unit.
- Think about how big it is. A big bottle is a bigger amount.a big bottle of water
- Choose the unit that fits. l is the right size for a big bottle of water.l
- Write the answer. l
Check. Would another unit feel right? No. ✓
Watch out. Small things use small units. Big things use big units.
Method. Find the water line. Count up from the nearest numbered mark.
- Find the top of the water. The water line shows the amount.top of the water
- Count up from the nearest number. The small marks go up in 50 ml.400
- Write the answer. 400
Check. Count the marks from 400 to the water line: 0 ml more. ✓
Watch out. Read the mark at the water line. Each number is 200 ml apart, with a mark every 50 ml.
Method. Find the water line. Count up from the nearest numbered mark.
- Find the top of the water. The water line shows the amount.top of the water
- Count up from the nearest number. The small marks go up in 50 ml.700
- Write the answer. 700
Check. Count the marks from 700 to the water line: 0 ml more. ✓
Watch out. Read the mark at the water line. Each number is 200 ml apart, with a mark every 50 ml.
Method. Half of 1000 ml is the same as 1000 ml shared into two equal parts.
- Look at 1 litre. One litre is 1000 ml.1 l = 1000 ml
- Share it into two. Half is one of two equal parts.1000 ÷ 2 = 500
- Write the answer. 500
Check. Two halves of 500 ml make 1000 ml: 500 + 500 = 1000. ✓
Watch out. Half a litre is 500 ml.
Method. Start with 600 ml. Take 200 ml away.
- Start with the water in the jug. The jug has 600 ml.600 ml
- Take the water away. Ali pours out 200 ml.600 − 200
- Write the answer. The water left is 400 ml.400
Check. Put the water back: 400 + 200 = 600. ✓
Watch out. Take the water poured out away from the start amount.
Method. Change to the same unit, then pick the biggest amount.
- Look at A. A is 300 ml.A: 300 ml
- Look at B. B is 500 ml.B: 500 ml
- Pick the one with the biggest amount. Once the units match, the numbers can be compared.B wins
- Write the answer. B
Check. Compare the other amounts too. ✓
Watch out. Read the units first. 2 m is longer than 150 cm, because 2 m = 200 cm.
Method. Change to one unit, then put the smallest amount first.
- Look at B. B is 200 ml.B: 200 ml
- Look at C. C is 500 ml.C: 500 ml
- Look at A. A is 800 ml.A: 800 ml
- Put the amounts in order. Smallest firstB, C, A
- Write the letters. B, C, A
Check. Check each pair: the first is never bigger than the next. ✓
Watch out. Compare the numbers after you change to the same unit.
Method. Add all the amount together.
- Find each part. We add the amount together.250 ml + 250 ml
- Add them together. Add one part at a time.250 + 250 = 500
- Write the answer. 500
Check. Add in a different order to check: 250 + 250 = 500. ✓
Watch out. Use the same unit for every part. The answer is in ml.
Method. Start with 1000 ml. Take the 350 ml that Sam drank away.
- Start with the full bottle. The bottle holds 1000 ml.1000 ml
- Take the drink away. Sam drinks 350 ml.1000 − 350 = 650
- Write the answer. 650
Check. Put the drink back: 650 + 350 = 1000. ✓
Watch out. Take the drink away from the full amount.
Method. Compare the two amounts in the same unit.
- Change 1 litre to millilitres. 1 litre = 1000 ml.1 l = 1000 ml
- Compare with 900 ml. Is 1000 ml more than 900 ml? Yes.1000 > 900
- Write the answer. more
Check. 1000 ml is more than 900 ml, so 1 litre is more. ✓
Watch out. Change litres to millilitres before you compare.