Maths Literacy: Mastering Measurements – Your Everyday Maths Tool

Admin
Jul 27
2 min read

Dear Grade 12s

Let’s talk about something real.

Something that shows up in your daily life — whether you're baking, building, shopping, or planning a trip.

That something is Measurements.

In Mathematical Literacy, Measurements is not just a school topic — it's a survival skill. You’ll use it for the rest of your life.

Let’s break it down so it makes sense, step by step.

📘 What Is Measurement?

Measurement is the process of assigning a number to a physical quantity, like:

Length, area, volume
Weight, temperature, speed, and more

It helps us understand the size, shape, and scale of the world around us.

🧮 Key Topics in Measurements

1️⃣ Length, Area, Volume, and Perimeter

📏 Length – straight-line distance (measured in mm, cm, m, km)📐 Area – space inside a 2D shape (m², cm²)🧱 Volume – space inside a 3D object (m³, cm³, litres)📏 Perimeter – total length around the edge of a shape

✅ Know the formulas:

Area of a rectangle: A = l × w
Area of a triangle: A = ½ × base × height
Volume of a box: V = l × w × h
Perimeter = add all sides

2️⃣ Conversions Between Units

You must be able to convert:

mm → cm → m → km
ml ↔ litres, cm³ ↔ litres
g ↔ kg, hours ↔ minutes

✅ Tip: Always check if the units match before calculating!(You can’t mix metres and centimetres without converting!)

3️⃣ Measuring Time, Temperature, and Speed

⏰ Time: read schedules, calculate duration, use 12-hr and 24-hr clocks🌡️ Temperature: compare values, understand Celsius🚗 Speed = Distance ÷ Time

Remember:
- Distance = Speed × Time
- Time = Distance ÷ Speed

4️⃣ Maps and Scale Drawing

🗺️ Know how to interpret map scales and scale diagrams

Example: On a scale of 1:100, every 1 cm = 100 cm in real life✅ Always include units when answering questions on scale!

🧠 Exam Tips for Measurement:

✅ Know and use correct formulas for area, volume, and perimeter

✅ Label all units (don’t just write numbers!)

✅ Always convert units before calculating

✅ Use your calculator carefully and double-check

✅ Sketch if you need to — visualising helps!

🌍 Why Measurements Matter

Measurement is everywhere:

Building or renovating a room 🧱
Cooking and baking recipes 🍰
Planning a road trip or delivery route 🚐
Buying paint, tiles, or furniture for a home 🛋️
Reading labels, maps, instructions

This topic prepares you for real adult life, not just the final exam.