Step-by-step Maths Level 5: Problems with totals of length, mass and capacity
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 5 metric length, mass and capacity chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Problems with totals of length, mass and capacity
For a total, multiply the measure by the number of items. Work in the smaller unit, then change the total back into mixed units.
Check that the answer makes sense for the story.
Key ideas
- Multiply the measure by the number of items.
- Work in the smaller unit to avoid mistakes.
- Give the answer in mixed units if the question asks.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 1,250 g.1,250 g × 3 = 3,750 g
- Change back to kg and g. Share the g into groups of 1,000.3,750 g = 3 kg 750 g
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.3 kg 750 g
Check. Check: 3,750 ÷ 3 = 1,250.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 215 cm.215 cm × 3 = 645 cm
- Change back to m and cm. Share the cm into groups of 100.645 cm = 6 m 45 cm
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.6 m 45 cm
Check. Check: 645 ÷ 3 = 215.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 1,500 ml.1,500 ml × 2 = 3,000 ml
- Change back to l and ml. Share the ml into groups of 1,000.3,000 ml = 3 l
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.3 l
Check. Check: 3,000 ÷ 2 = 1,500.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Watch out
Watch out. Read the question: does it ask for the total of one item or for several? Check the number of items.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask the child to say the total in the smallest unit first, then in mixed units.
Exercise 8E Practice: problems with totals
Non-calculatorMethod. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 3,763 ml.3,763 ml × 2 = 7,526 ml
- Change back to l and ml. Share the ml into groups of 1,000.7,526 ml = 7 l 526 ml
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.7 l 526 ml
Check. Check: 7,526 ÷ 2 = 3,763.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 3,720 ml.3,720 ml × 2 = 7,440 ml
- Change back to l and ml. Share the ml into groups of 1,000.7,440 ml = 7 l 440 ml
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.7 l 440 ml
Check. Check: 7,440 ÷ 2 = 3,720.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 2,297 ml.2,297 ml × 2 = 4,594 ml
- Change back to l and ml. Share the ml into groups of 1,000.4,594 ml = 4 l 594 ml
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.4 l 594 ml
Check. Check: 4,594 ÷ 2 = 2,297.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 2,428 ml.2,428 ml × 2 = 4,856 ml
- Change back to l and ml. Share the ml into groups of 1,000.4,856 ml = 4 l 856 ml
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.4 l 856 ml
Check. Check: 4,856 ÷ 2 = 2,428.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 197 cm.197 cm × 3 = 591 cm
- Change back to m and cm. Share the cm into groups of 100.591 cm = 5 m 91 cm
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.5 m 91 cm
Check. Check: 591 ÷ 3 = 197.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 185 cm.185 cm × 3 = 555 cm
- Change back to m and cm. Share the cm into groups of 100.555 cm = 5 m 55 cm
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.5 m 55 cm
Check. Check: 555 ÷ 3 = 185.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 191 cm.191 cm × 3 = 573 cm
- Change back to m and cm. Share the cm into groups of 100.573 cm = 5 m 73 cm
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.5 m 73 cm
Check. Check: 573 ÷ 3 = 191.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 168 cm.168 cm × 3 = 504 cm
- Change back to m and cm. Share the cm into groups of 100.504 cm = 5 m 4 cm
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.5 m 4 cm
Check. Check: 504 ÷ 3 = 168.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 100 cm.100 cm × 3 = 300 cm
- Change back to m and cm. Share the cm into groups of 100.300 cm = 3 m
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.3 m
Check. Check: 300 ÷ 3 = 100.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 1,594 ml.1,594 ml × 2 = 3,188 ml
- Change back to l and ml. Share the ml into groups of 1,000.3,188 ml = 3 l 188 ml
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.3 l 188 ml
Check. Check: 3,188 ÷ 2 = 1,594.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 2,284 g.2,284 g × 3 = 6,852 g
- Change back to kg and g. Share the g into groups of 1,000.6,852 g = 6 kg 852 g
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.6 kg 852 g
Check. Check: 6,852 ÷ 3 = 2,284.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 1,152 g.1,152 g × 3 = 3,456 g
- Change back to kg and g. Share the g into groups of 1,000.3,456 g = 3 kg 456 g
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.3 kg 456 g
Check. Check: 3,456 ÷ 3 = 1,152.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 1,783 g.1,783 g × 3 = 5,349 g
- Change back to kg and g. Share the g into groups of 1,000.5,349 g = 5 kg 349 g
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.5 kg 349 g
Check. Check: 5,349 ÷ 3 = 1,783.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 174 cm.174 cm × 3 = 522 cm
- Change back to m and cm. Share the cm into groups of 100.522 cm = 5 m 22 cm
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.5 m 22 cm
Check. Check: 522 ÷ 3 = 174.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 3,729 g.3,729 g × 3 = 11,187 g
- Change back to kg and g. Share the g into groups of 1,000.11,187 g = 11 kg 187 g
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.11 kg 187 g
Check. Check: 11,187 ÷ 3 = 3,729.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.
Method. Multiply the measure by the number of items, then change to mixed units.
- Work out the total in the smallest unit. Each one is 2,845 ml.2,845 ml × 2 = 5,690 ml
- Change back to l and ml. Share the ml into groups of 1,000.5,690 ml = 5 l 690 ml
- Write the answer. Give the total in mixed units.5 l 690 ml
Check. Check: 5,690 ÷ 2 = 2,845.
Watch out. Multiply in the small unit, then change back at the end.