Year 6 · Maths · Converting units · Lesson 2
Miles, kilometres and imperial units
Convert between miles and kilometres using 5 miles ≈ 8 km, and use common imperial equivalents for inches, feet, pounds, pints and gallons.
18-minute video lesson
Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.
Watch free for a monthWhat your child will learn
- Use 5 miles ≈ 8 km
- Convert miles to km and back
- Use imperial equivalents
- Compare distances in different units
The method
- Miles -> km: ÷ 5, × 8.
- Km -> miles: ÷ 8, × 5.
- Other units: fact, then × or ÷.
- Use 'about'.
Key words: imperial, mile, kilometre, inch, approximately.
Worked examples
The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.
Question 1
Convert 10 miles to km.
- Step 1: 5 miles ≈ 8 km
- Step 2: 10 ÷ 5 = 2
- Step 3: 2 × 8 = 16
Answer: about 16 km
Question 2
Convert 25 miles to km.
- Step 1: 5 miles ≈ 8 km
- Step 2: 25 ÷ 5 = 5
- Step 3: 5 × 8 = 40
Answer: about 40 km
Question 3
Convert 50 miles to km.
- Step 1: 5 miles ≈ 8 km
- Step 2: 50 ÷ 5 = 10
- Step 3: 10 × 8 = 80
Answer: about 80 km