Applying Ratios

and Rates
MODULE

7
?
LESSON 7.1
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
Ratios, Rates, Tables,
How can you use ratios and and Graphs
rates to solve real-world 6.RP.3, 6.RP.3a,
problems? 6.RP.3b

LESSON 7.2
Applying Ratio and
Rate Reasoning
6.RP.3, 6.RP.3b

LESSON 7.3
Converting Within
Measurement
Systems
6.RP.3d

LESSON 7.4
Converting Between
Measurement
Systems
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company • Image Credits: ©Cultura/Leon Harris/StockImage/

6.RP.3, 6.RP.3b,
6.RP.3d

Real-World Video
Chefs use lots of measurements when preparing meals.
If a chef needs more or less of a dish, he can use ratios to
scale the recipe up or down. Using proportional reasoning,
my.hrw.com the chef keeps the ratios of all ingredients constant.
Getty Images

my.hrw.com my.hrw.com Math On the Spot Animated Math Personal Math Trainer
Go digital with your Scan with your smart Interactively explore Get immediate
write-in student phone to jump directly key concepts to see feedback and help as
edition, accessible on to the online edition, how math works. you work through
any device. video tutor, and more. practice sets.

169
 Are YOU Ready?
Complete these exercises to review skills you will need Personal
for this module. Math Trainer
Online Practice
Graph Ordered Pairs (First Quadrant) my.hrw.com and Help

y
EXAMPLE
10 To graph A(2, 7), start at the origin.
Move 2 units right.
8
A Then move 7 units up.
6 Graph point A(2, 7).
4
2
x
O 2 4 6 8 10

Graph each ordered pair on the coordinate plane above.

1. B(9, 6) 2. C(0, 2) 3. D(6, 10) 4. E(3, 4)

Write Equivalent Fractions

14 ×2 28 Multiply the numerator and denominator by the
EXAMPLE __
21
= 14
_____
21 × 2
= __
42 same number to find an equivalent fraction.
÷7 Divide the numerator and denominator by the
14
__
21
= 14
_____
21 ÷ 7
= _23
same number to find an equivalent fraction.

Write the equivalent fraction.

6 = _____
5. __ 4 = _____
6. __ 1 = _____
7. __ 9 = _____
8. ___
8 32 6 12 8 56 12 4

5 = _____
9. __ 25 5 = _____
10. __ 20 36 = _____
11. ___ 12 20 = _____
12. ___ 10
9 6 45 36

Multiples © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

EXAMPLE List the first five multiples of 4.

4×1=4
4×2=8 Multiply 4 by the numbers 1, 2,
4 × 3 = 12 3, 4, and 5.
4 × 4 = 16
4 × 5 = 20

List the first five multiples of each number.

13. 3 14. 7 15. 8

170 Unit 3
 Reading Start-Up Vocabulary
Review Words
Visualize Vocabulary equivalent ratios (razones
equivalentes)
Use the ✔ words to complete the graphic. factor (factor)
Comparing Unit Rates graph (gráfica)
✔ pattern (patrón)
Single item
point (punto)
✔ rate (tasa)
ratio (razón)
✔ unit (unidad)
Rate in which the ✔ unit rate (tasa unitaria)
Ratio of two quantities that
second quantity is
have different units
one unit
Preview Words
conversion factor (factor
de conversión)
proportion (proporción)
Numbers that follow a rule scale (escala)
scale drawing (dibujo a
escala)

Understand Vocabulary
Complete the sentences using the preview words.

1. A is a rate that compares two

equivalent measurements.

2. In a scale drawing, the describes how the

dimensions in the actual object compare to the dimensions in the
drawing.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Active Reading
Tri-Fold Before beginning the module, create
a tri-fold to help you learn the concepts and
vocabulary in this module. Fold the paper into
three sections. Label one column “Rates and
Ratios,” the second column “Proportions,” and
the third column “Converting Measurements.”
Complete the tri-fold with important vocabulary,
examples, and notes as you read the module.

Module 7 171
 GETTING READY FOR

Applying Ratios and Rates

Understanding the standards and the vocabulary terms in the standards
will help you know exactly what you are expected to learn in this module.

6.RP.3
Use ratio and rate reasoning What It Means to You
to solve real-world and
You will use ratios and rates to solve real-world
mathematical problems, e.g.,
problems such as those involving proportions.
by reasoning about tables of
equivalent ratios, tape diagrams, EXAMPLE 6.RP.3
double number line diagrams,
The distance from Austin to Dallas is about 200 miles. How far
or equations. 1 in.
apart will these cities appear on a map with the scale of ____ ?
50 mi
Key Vocabulary 1 inch inches
______
50 miles
= ________
200 miles
Write the scale as a unit rate.
ratio (razón)
A comparison of two quantities
1 inch × 4 inches
by division.
_________ = ________ 200 is a common denominator.
50 miles × 4 200 miles
rate (tasa)
A ratio that compares two =4
quantities measured in
different units. Austin and Dallas are 4 inches apart on the map.

6.RP.3d
Use ratio reasoning to convert
What It Means to You

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company • Image Credits: ©Getty Images

measurement units; manipulate You will use unit rates to convert measurement units.
and transform units appropriately
EXAMPLE 6.RP.3d
when multiplying or dividing
quantities. The Washington Monument is about 185
yards tall. This height is almost equal to the
Key Vocabulary length of two football fields. About how
unit rate (tasa unitaria) many feet is this?
A rate in which the second 3 ft
quantity in the comparison is 185 yd · ____
1 yd
one unit. 185 yd 3 ft
= _____
1
· ____
1 yd

= 555 ft
The Washington Monument is about 555 feet tall.
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to see all CA
Common Core
Standards
explained.
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172 Unit 3
 LESSON
Ratios, Rates, Tables, 6.RP.3a

7.1 and Graphs

Make tables of equivalent
ratios ..., find missing values
in the tables, and plot
the pairs of values on the
coordinate plane. ... Also
6.RP.3, 6.RP.3b

? ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How can you represent real-world problems involving ratios and
rates with tables and graphs?

EXPLORE ACTIVITY 1
6.RP.3, 6.RP.3a

Finding Ratios from Tables

Students in Mr. Webster’s science classes are doing an experiment that requires
250 milliliters of distilled water for every 5 milliliters of ammonia. The table
shows the amount of distilled water needed for various amounts of ammonia.

Ammonia (mL) 2 3 3.5 5

Distilled water (mL) 100 200 250

A Use the numbers in the first column of the table to write a ratio of

distilled water to ammonia.

B How much distilled water is used for 1 milliliter of ammonia?
Use your answer to write another ratio of distilled water to ammonia.

C The ratios in A and B are equivalent/not equivalent.

D How can you use your answer to B to find the amount of distilled Math Talk
Mathematical Practices
water to add to a given amount of ammonia? How is the amount of distilled
water in each mixture
related to the amount of
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

ammonia?

E Complete the table. What are the equivalent ratios shown in the table?

100 = _____ = _____ = _____

____ 250
200 = ____
2 3 3.5 5

Reflect
1. Look for a Pattern For every 1 milliliter of ammonia, there are

milliliters of distilled water. So for 6 milliliters of

ammonia, milliliters of distilled water must be added.

Lesson 7.1 173

 EXPLORE ACTIVITY 2
6.RP.3a

Graphing with Ratios

A Copy the table from Explore Activity 1 that shows the amounts of
ammonia and distilled water.

Ammonia (mL) 2 3 3.5 5

Distilled 100 200 250

water (mL)

B Write the information in the table as ordered pairs. Use the

Distilled Water (mL)

amounts of ammonia as the x-coordinates and the amounts of 300 (5, 250)
distilled water as the y-coordinates. 200

(2, ) (3, ), (3.5, ), ( , 200), (5, 250) 100

Graph the ordered pairs. Because fractions and decimals can O 2 4 6

represent amounts of chemicals, connect the points. Ammonia (mL)
Describe your graph.
C For each ordered pair that you graphed, write the ratio of the

y-coordinate to the x-coordinate.

D The ratio of distilled water to ammonia is _____

1
. How are the ratios in
C related to this ratio?
E The point (2.5, 125) is on the graph but not in the table. The ratio of the
y-coordinate to the x-coordinate is . How is this ratio related to

the ratios in C and D ?

2.5 milliliters of ammonia requires milliliters of distilled water.

F Conjecture What do you think is true for every point on the graph?
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Reflect
2. Communicate Mathematical Ideas How can you use the graph to find
the amount of distilled water to use for 4.5 milliliters of ammonia?

174 Unit 3
 Representing Rates with
Tables and Graphs
You can use tables and graphs to represent real-world problems involving
equivalent rates. Math On the Spot
my.hrw.com

EXAMPL 1
EXAMPLE 6.RP.3a, 6.RP.3b

An express train travels from Webster Webster

to Washington, D.C., at a constant es
mil
speed and makes the trip in 2 hours. 120
A Make a table to show the distance Animated
Math
the train travels in various amounts my.hrw.com
of time.
STEP 1 Write a ratio of distance
Washington, D.C.
to time to find the rate.
distance = _________
________ 60 miles = 60 miles per hour
120 miles = _______
time 2 hours 1 hour

STEP 2 Use the unit rate to make a table.

Time (h) 1 2 3 4 5
Distance (mi) 60 120 180 240 300

B Graph the information from the table.

y
Write ordered pairs with time as the x-coordinate 300
Distance (mi)

and distance as the y-coordinate. 240

(1, 60), (2, 120), (3, 180), (4, 240), (5, 300) 180
120 (2, 120)
Graph the ordered pairs. Fractions and decimals 60
x
can represent times and distances, so connect
O 1 2 3 4 5
the points.
Time (h)
C Use the graph to find how long the train takes
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

to travel 90 miles.
The point (1.5, 90) is on the graph, so the train takes 1.5 hours.

YOUR TURN 40
Water used (gal)

3. A shower uses 12 gallons of water in 3 minutes. 32

Complete the table and the graph. Suppose the 24

shower used 32 gallons of water. How long did it 16
take? 8
Personal
O
Math Trainer
2 4 6 8 10
Time (min) 2 3 4 6 Online Practice
Time (min) and Help

Water used (gal) 20 my.hrw.com

Lesson 7.1 175

Guided Practice
1. Science The ratio of oxygen atoms to sulfur 2. Use the table in Exercise 1 to graph the
atoms in sulfur dioxide is always the same. relationship between sulfur atoms and
The table shows the numbers of atoms oxygen atoms. Because numbers of atoms
in different quantities of sulfur dioxide. must be whole numbers, do not connect the
Complete the table. (Explore Activity 1) points. (Explore Activity 2)

Sulfur atoms 6 9 21 60

Oxygen atoms
48
Oxygen 12 54
atoms 36
24
What are the equivalent ratios shown in the
12
table?
O 6 12 18 24 30
Sulfur atoms

3. Stickers are made with the same ratio of 4. Graph the relationship between the width
length to width. A sticker 2 inches wide has and the length of the stickers in Exercise 3.
a length of 4 inches. Complete the table. (Explore Activity 2)
(Explore Activity 1)
20
Width (in.) 2 4 7 Length (in.) 16
12
Length (in.) 4 16
8
4
What are the equivalent ratios shown in the
table? O 2 4 6 8 10
Width (in.)

5. Five boxes of candles contain a total of 60 candles. 120

Each box holds the same number of candles. Complete
96
the table and the graph. Suppose you have 84 candles.
Candles

72
How many boxes is that? (Example 1)
48
Boxes 5 8 24

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Candles 60 120 O 2 4 6 8 10
Boxes

? ESSENTIAL QUESTION CHECK-IN

6. How do you represent real-world problems involving ratios or rates

visually?

176 Unit 3
 Name Class Date

7.1 Independent Practice Personal

Math Trainer
Online Practice
6.RP.3, 6.RP.3a, 6.RP.3b and Help
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The table shows information about the number of sweatshirts sold and the
money collected at a fundraiser for school athletic programs. Use the table
for Exercises 7–12.

Sweatshirts sold 3 5 8 12

Money collected ($) 60 180

7. Find the rate of money collected per sweatshirt sold. Show your work.

8. Use the unit rate to complete the table.

9. Explain how to graph information from the table.

10. Write the information in the table as ordered pairs. Graph the
relationship from the table. 280
Money Collected ($)

240
200
11. What If? How much money would be collected if 160
24 sweatshirts were sold? Show your work.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

120
80
40

O 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Sweatshirts Sold

12. Analyze Relationships Does the point (5.5, 110) make sense in this
context? Explain.

Lesson 7.1 177

13. Communicate Mathematical Ideas The table
Time (h) 1 2 3 4 5
shows the distance Mindy drove on one day of
her vacation. Find the distance Mindy would have Distance (mi) 55 110 165 220 275
gone if she had driven for one more hour at the
same rate. Explain how you solved the problem.

Use the graph for Exercises 14–15.

70
14. What number of weeks corresponds to 56 days? Explain your reasoning. 56

Time (days)
42
28
15. Represent Real-World Problems What is a real-life relationship that 14
can be described by the graph?
O 2 4 6 8 10
Time (weeks)

FOCUS ON HIGHER ORDER THINKING Work Area

distance
16. Make a Conjecture Complete the table. Then find the rates ______
time
and
time
______
distance
.

Time (min) 1 2 5 distance

_______
time
=
Distance (m) 25 100
time
_______
distance
=
time
a. Are the ______
distance
rates equivalent? Explain.

b. Suppose you graph the points (time, distance) and your friend graphs
(distance, time). How would your graphs be different?

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

17. Communicate Mathematical Ideas To graph a rate or ratio from a table,

how do you determine the scales to use on each axis?

178 Unit 3
 LESSON
Applying Ratio and 6.RP.3

7.2 Rate Reasoning

Use ratio and rate reasoning
to solve real-world and
mathematical problems,
e.g., by reasoning about…
equations. Also 6.RP.3b

? ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How can you solve problems with proportions?

Using Ratio Reasoning

A proportion is an equation that states that two ratios or rates are equivalent.
1
_
3
and _26 are equivalent ratios. 1 _
_ = 2 is a proportion.
3 6
Math On the Spot
my.hrw.com
EXAMPL 1
EXAMPLE 6.RP.3

Sheldon and Leonard are partners in a business. Sheldon makes $2 in

profits for every $5 that Leonard makes. If together they make a profit of
$28 on the first item they sell, how much profit does Sheldon make?
STEP 1 Write a proportion.

Notice that if the ratio of Sheldon’s profit to Leonard’s is $2 to $5,

the ratio of Sheldon’s profit to the total profit is $2 to $7.

Sheldon’s profit is unknown.

Sheldon’s profit $2 ___

__ Sheldon’s profit
$7 = $28
____________ ____________
Total profit Total profit

STEP 2 Use ratio reasoning to find the unknown value. Math Talk
Mathematical Practices
×4
For every dollar that
$2 $8 Leonard makes, how much
__ = ___ Because $7 × 4 = $28, multiply $2 by 4. does Sheldon make?
$7 $28
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Explain.
×4
If they make a total profit of $28, then Sheldon makes a profit
of $8.

YOUR TURN
1. The members of the PTA are ordering pizza for a meeting. They plan
to order 2 cheese pizzas for every 3 pepperoni pizzas they order. How Personal
many cheese pizzas will they order if they order a total of 25 pizzas? Math Trainer
Online Practice
and Help
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Lesson 7.2 179

 Using Rates to Solve Proportions
You can also use equivalent rates to solve real-world problems involving
proportions.

Math On the Spot

my.hrw.com EXAMPLE 2 6.RP.3b

The distance Ali runs in 40 minutes is shown on the pedometer.

At this rate, how far can he run in 60 minutes?

STEP 1 Write a proportion.

time 40 minutes
__________ 60 minutes time
________ = __________ ________
distance 3 miles miles distance

60 is not a multiple of 40. So, there is no whole number

by which you can multiply 3 miles to find miles. You can use
division to find a multiplier.

STEP 2 Find a multiplier.

To find a number by which you can multiply 40 to get 60,

divide 60 by 40.
20
60 ÷ 40 = 1___
40
1 3
 = 1__ or __
2 2
STEP 3 Find an equivalent rate.

×__32
40 minutes = __________
__________ 60 minutes 3 = __
3 × __ 9
3 miles _9 miles 2 2
2
×__32
9 miles, or 4__
At this rate, Ali can run __ 1 miles, in 60 minutes.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
2 2

YOUR TURN
2. Ms. Reynolds has a system of 10 sprinklers that water her entire lawn.
The sprinklers run one at a time, and each runs for the same amount
Personal of time. The first 4 sprinklers run for a total of 50 minutes. How long
Math Trainer does it take to water her entire lawn?
Online Practice
and Help
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180 Unit 3
 Using Proportional Relationships
to Find Distance on a Map
A scale drawing is a drawing of a real object that is proportionally smaller
or larger than the real object. A scale is a ratio between two sets of Math On the Spot
measurements. It shows how a dimension in a scale drawing is related to the my.hrw.com
actual object.

A map is a scale drawing. The measurements on a map are in proportion to

the actual distances. If 1 inch on a map equals an actual distance of 2 miles,
the scale is 1 inch = 2 miles. You can write a scale as a rate to solve problems.

EXAMPL 3
EXAMPLE 6.RP.3b

The distance between two schools on Lehigh Avenue is shown on the

map. What is the actual distance between the schools?
STEP 1 Write a proportion using the scale as

Eighth St.
North St.
.
a unit rate. B lvd
r k
Pa

actual distance
_____________ ______ miles
2 miles = ________ R 3 in. T
map distance 1 inch 3 inches Lehigh Ave.

Broad St.
STEP 2 Use the proportion to find the distance.
Scale: 1 inch = 2 miles
×3
2 miles = ________
_______ 6 miles Because 1 × 3 = 3, multiply 2 by 3.
1 inch 3 inches
×3
The actual distance between the two schools is 6 miles.

YOUR TURN
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

3. The distance between Sandville and Lewiston is shown on

the map. What is the actual distance between the towns?

Sandville
Traymoor

2.5 in.
Sloneham
Lewiston
Baymont Personal
Math Trainer
Online Practice
and Help
Scale: 1 inch = 20 miles
my.hrw.com

Lesson 7.2 181

Guided Practice
Find the unknown value in each proportion. (Example 1)

3 = ___
1. __ 4 = ___
2. ___
5 30 10 5
× ÷
3
_________ = _____ 4
__________ = _____
5 30 10 5
× ÷

In Exercises 3–6, solve using ratio or rate reasoning.

(Examples 1 and 2)
3. Leila and Jo are two of the partners in 4. Hendrick wants to enlarge a photo that
a business. Leila makes $3 in profits for is 4 inches wide and 6 inches tall. The
every $4 that Jo makes. If their total enlarged photo keeps the same ratio.
profit on the first item sold is $105, how How tall is the enlarged photo if it is

much profit does Leila make? 1 foot wide?

5. A person on a moving sidewalk travels 6. Contestants in a dance marathon rest

24 feet in 7 seconds. The moving for the same amount of time every hour.
sidewalk has a length of 180 feet. How A couple rests for 27 minutes in 6 hours.
long will it take to move from one end How long does the couple rest in
of the sidewalk to the other? 8 hours?

7. What is the actual distance between

Gendet and Montrose? (Example 3)
Gendet Gravel

1.5 cm

Montrose

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Scale: 1 centimeter = 16 kilometers

? ESSENTIAL QUESTION CHECK-IN

8. Describe a real-world problem you could solve using a proportion.

182 Unit 3
 Name Class Date

7.2 Independent Practice Personal

Math Trainer
Online Practice
6.RP.3, 6.RP.3b and Help
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9. The scale of the map is missing. The actual 11. On an airplane, there are two seats on the
distance from Liberty to West Quall is left side in each row and three seats on the
72 miles, and it is 6 inches on the map. right side. There are 150 seats altogether.

West Quall a. How many seats are on the left side of

Abbeville
the plane?
Foston
b. How many seats are on the left

side?
Mayne
Liberty 12. Carrie and Krystal are taking a road trip
from Greenville to North Valley. Each
person has her own map, and the scales on
a. What is the scale of the map? the maps are different.
a. On Carrie’s map, Greenville and North
Valley are 4.5 inches apart. The scale on
b. Foston is between Liberty and West
her map is 1 inch = 20 miles. How far is
Quall and is 4 inches from Liberty on
Greenville from North Valley?
the map. How far is Foston from West
Quall?

b. The scale on Krystal’s map is 1 inch =

18 miles. How far apart are Greenville
10. A punch recipe says to mix 4 cups and North Valley on Krystal’s map?
pineapple juice, 8 cups orange juice,
and 12 cups seltzer in order to make
18 servings of punch.
13. Multistep A machine can produce
a. How many cups of each ingredient do 27 inches of ribbon every 3 minutes. How
you need to make 108 cups of punch? many feet of ribbon can the machine make
in one hour? Explain.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

cups pineapple juice

cups orange juice

cups seltzer
b. How many servings can be made from

108 cups of punch?

c. For every cup of seltzer you use, how
much orange juice do you use?

Lesson 7.2 183

Marta, Loribeth, and Ira all have bicycles. Time Spent on Last Bike Distance of Last
The table shows the number of miles of Ride (in minutes) Ride (in miles)
each rider’s last bike ride, as well as the Marta 80 8
time it took each rider to complete the ride.
Loribeth 60 9
14. What was Marta’s unit rate, in minutes per Ira 75 15
mile?

15. Whose speed was the fastest on their last bike ride?

16. If all three riders travel for 3.5 hours at the same speed as their last ride,
how many total miles will the 3 riders travel altogether? Explain.

17. Critique Reasoning Jason watched a caterpillar move 10 feet in

2 minutes. Jason says that the caterpillar’s unit rate is _15 foot per minute. Is
Jason correct? Explain.

FOCUS ON HIGHER ORDER THINKING

Work Area

18. Analyze Relationships If the number in the numerator of a unit rate is 1,

what does this indicate about the equivalent unit rates? Give an example.

19. Multiple Representations A boat travels at a constant speed. After

20 minutes, the boat has traveled 2.5 miles. The boat travels a total of
10 miles to a bridge.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
10
a. Graph the relationship between the
Distance (mi)

8
distance the boat travels and the time
6
it takes.
4
b. How long does it take the boat to reach 2
the bridge? Explain.
O 20 60 100
Time (min)

184 Unit 3
 LESSON
Converting Within 6.RP.3d

7.3 Measurement Systems

Use ratio reasoning to
convert measurement units;
manipulate and transform
units appropriately when
multiplying or dividing
quantities.

? ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How do you convert units within a measurement system?

6.RP.3d
EXPLORE ACTIVITY

Using a Model to Convert Units

The two most common systems of measurement are the customary system and
the metric system. You can use a model to convert from one unit to another
within the same measurement system.

STEP 1 Use the model to complete each 3 6 9 12

statement below. feet
1 yard = 3 feet yards
2 yards = feet 1 2 3 4
3 yards = feet

4 yards = feet
STEP 2 Rewrite your answers in Step 1 as ratios.

feet feet feet feet feet feet

________
2 yards
= _________ ________
3 yards
= ________
1 yard
________
4 yards
= ________
1 yard
1 yard

The ratio of feet to yards in any measurement is _31. So, any ratio
forming a proportion with _31 can represent a ratio of feet to yards.
3 __
_ = 12, so 12 feet = yards.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

1 4
3 __
_ = 54, so
1 18
feet = 18 yards.

Reflect
1. Communicate Mathematical Ideas How could you draw a model to
show the relationship between feet and inches?

Lesson 7.3 185

 Converting Units Using Ratios and
Proportions
You can use ratios and proportions to convert both customary and metric units.
Math On the Spot Use the table below to convert from one unit to another within the same
my.hrw.com measurement system.

Customary Measurements
Length Weight Capacity
1 cup = 8 fluid ounces
1 foot = 12 inches
1 pound = 16 ounces 1 pint = 2 cups
1 yard = 3 feet
1 ton = 2,000 pounds 1 quart = 2 pints
1 mile = 1,760 yards
1 gallon = 4 quarts
Metric Measurements
Length Mass Capacity
1 kilometer = 1,000 meters
1 kilogram = 1,000 grams
1 meter = 100 centimeters 1 liter = 1,000 milliliters
1 gram = 1,000 milligrams
1 centimeter = 10 millimeters

Each relationship in the table can be described by two equivalent ratios. For
1 quart
example, because 1 quart = 2 pints, you can write the equivalent ratios _____
2 pints
2 pints
and _____
1 quart .

EXAMPLE 1 6.RP.3d
My Notes
A An average human brain weighs 3 pounds. What is this weight in ounces?
Use a proportion to convert 3 pounds to ounces.

STEP 1 Identify the ratio that compares the units involved.

The units, pounds and ounces, are customary units of weight.

Find the relationship of those units in the Weight section of the
Customary Measurements table.

1 pound = 16 ounces.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
STEP 2 Write a proportion.
1 pound 3 pounds 1 pound
_________ = _________ Write the ratio _________.
16 ounces ounces 16 ounces

×3
1 pound 3 pounds
_________ = _________ Because 1 × 3 = 3, multiply 16 by 3.
16 ounces 48 ounces
Math Talk ×3
Mathematical Practices
How would you solve A weight of 3 pounds is equal to 48 ounces.
Example 1 using the
16 ounces
ratio ________
1 pound
?

186 Unit 3
 B A moderate amount of daily sodium consumption is 2,000 milligrams.
What is this mass in grams?

Use a proportion to convert 2,000 milligrams to grams.

STEP 1 Identify the ratio that compares the units involved.

The units, milligrams and grams, are metric units of mass.

Find the relationship of those units in the Mass section of the
Metric Measurements table: 1 gram = 1,000 milligrams.
STEP 2 Write a proportion.
1,000 milligrams ______________
2,000 milligrams Write the ratio
______________ = 1,000 milligrams
1 gram gram _______________ .
1 gram
×2
1,000 milligrams 2,000 milligrams Because 1,000 × 2 =
______________ = ______________ 2,000, multiply 1 by 2.
1 gram 2 grams
×2
A mass of 2,000 milligrams is equal to 2 grams.

Reflect
2. Analyze Relationships Suppose you wanted to convert 27 feet to
yards. Would the number of yards be less than or greater than 27?
How do you know?

3. Communicate Mathematical Ideas In B , what other ratio based on

the table could you use? What would your proportion be?

YOUR TURN
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Use ratios and proportions to solve.

4. The height of a doorway is 6 feet. What is the height
of the doorway in inches?

5. A recipe calls for 40 fluid ounces of milk. What is the

amount of milk called for in cups?

6. Josie’s water bottle has a capacity of 2 liters. What is

the capacity of her water bottle in milliliters?
Personal
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7. A piece of ribbon is 350 centimeters long. What is Online Practice
the length of the piece of ribbon in meters? and Help
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Lesson 7.3 187

 Converting Units by Using
Conversion Factors
Another way to convert measurements is by multiplying by a conversion factor.
Math On the Spot A conversion factor is a ratio comparing two equivalent measurements.
my.hrw.com

EXAMPLE 2 6.RP.3d

A Elena wants to buy 2 gallons of milk but can only find quart containers
for sale. How many quarts does she need?
STEP 1 You want to convert gallons to quarts.
Math Talk 4 quarts
Mathematical Practices The appropriate conversion factor is ______
1 gallon
because when you
Why can you multiply multiply 2 gallons by that conversion factor, you can divide out
a measurement by a the common unit gallons. The resulting unit is quarts.
conversion factor without
changing the
measurement?
STEP 2 Multiply the given measurement by the conversion factor.
4 quarts ×4
2 gallons × ______
1 gallon
= 2____
1
quarts Divide out the common unit.

= 8 quarts
Elena needs 8 quarts of milk.
B A container of a powdered fruit drink mix has a mass of 1.25 kilograms.
What is that mass in milligrams?
STEP 1 You want to convert kilograms to milligrams.

There is no equation in the table that relates kilograms and

milligrams directly. However, you can convert kilograms to
grams first. Then you can convert grams to milligrams.
STEP 2 Multiply the given measurement by the conversion factor.
1,000 g
1.25 kg × ______
1 kg = 1.25 × 1,000 g = 1,250 g

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

1,000 mg
1,250 g × _______
1g
= 1,250 × 1,000 mg = 1,250,000 mg

You can also do both conversions at the same time.

1,000 g 1,000 mg
1.25 kg × ______
1 kg ×
_______ = 1.25 × 1,000 × 1,000 mg
1g
= 1,250,000 mg

A mass of 1.25 kilograms is equal to 1,250,000 milligrams.

188 Unit 3
 YOUR TURN
8. An oak tree is planted when it is 9. A pitcher contains 1_34 quarts of
Personal
250 centimeters tall. What is the milk. How many fluid ounces of Math Trainer
height of the oak tree in meters? milk does the pitcher contain? Online Practice
and Help
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Guided Practice
Use the model below to complete each statement. (Explore Activity 1)
4 8 12 16
cups
quarts
1 2 3 4
1. _41 = __
12
3 , so 12 cups = quarts
48
2. _41 = __
12, so cups = 12 quarts

Use ratios and proportions to solve. (Example 1)

3. Mary Catherine makes 2 gallons of punch. 4. The mass of a moon rock is 3.5 kilograms.
How many cups of punch does she make? What is the mass of the moon rock in grams?

Use a conversion factor to solve. (Example 2)

5. A serving of chickpeas contains 1,750 6. On a hike, Jason found a California king

milligrams of potassium. How many grams snake that was 42 inches long. How many
of potassium is that? feet is that?
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

? ESSENTIAL QUESTION CHECK-IN

7. How do you convert units within a measurement system?

Lesson 7.3 189

Name Class Date

7.3 Independent Practice Personal

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8. What is a conversion factor that you can use to convert gallons to pints?
How did you find it?

9. Three friends each have some ribbon. Carol has 42 inches of ribbon, Tino
has 2.5 feet of ribbon, and Baxter has 1.5 yards of ribbon. Express the total
length of ribbon the three friends have in inches, in feet, and in yards.

inches = feet = yards

10. Suzanna wants to measure a board, but she doesn’t have a ruler to
measure with. However, she does have several copies of a book that she
knows is 17 centimeters tall.
a. Suzanna lays the books end to end and finds that the board is the
same length as 21 books. How many centimeters long is the board?

b. Suzanna needs a board that is at least 3.5 meters long. Is the board
long enough? Explain.

Sheldon needs to buy 8 gallons of coleslaw for a family reunion. The table
shows the prices for different sizes of two brands of coleslaw. Use the table
for Exercises 11 and 12.

Price of small size Price of large size

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Brand A $2.50 for 1 pint $4.50 for 1 quart
Brand B $4.25 for 1 quart $9.50 for 1 gallon

11. Which size container of Brand A coleslaw is the better deal for Sheldon?
Explain.

12. Multistep Which size and brand of coleslaw is the best deal?

190 Unit 3
 13. In Beijing in 2008, the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase
became an Olympic event. What is this distance in
kilometers?

14. How would you convert 5 feet 6 inches to inches?

15. A quarter horse often excels at running races of _14 mile or

less. How many feet is that?

The California condor is the largest land bird in North America. One of the
smallest is the bee hummingbird.

16. A bird’s wingspan is the distance from the tip of one wing to the tip of
the other. A California condor can have a wingspan of 9 _12 feet. A bee
hummingbird can have a wingspan of 2 _12 inches. How much longer is the
California condor’s wingspan than the bee hummingbird’s?

17. A California condor can have a mass of 13 kilograms. A bee hummingbird

can have a mass of 1.6 grams. How many times as great as the bee
hummingbird’s mass is the California condor’s mass?
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company • Image credits: ©Michael Steele/Getty Images

18. Three friends recorded the distance from each of their homes to the park
using different units. The distances are shown in the table.

Name Distance from Home to the Park

Clark 1 _34 miles
Julio 2,640 yards
Jim 17,160 feet

a. Who lives closest to the park? Who lives farthest from the park?

b. Critique Reasoning Clark says he lives less than half as far from the
park as Jim does. Is Clark right? Explain.

Lesson 7.3 191

 FOCUS ON HIGHER ORDER THINKING Work Area

19. Analyze Relationships Sophie bought a water fountain for her cat.
The fountain holds 50 fluid ounces of water. To fill it, Sophie uses a jar
that holds 1 pint. How many times must she fill the jar to fill the fountain
completely? Will she have water left in the jar? How much? Explain.

20. Persevere in Problem Solving A football field

has the dimensions shown.
a. What are the dimensions of
a football field in feet? 1
53 3 yd

b. A chalk line is placed around the 120 yd

perimeter of the football field. What is
the length of this line in feet?

c. About how many laps around the perimeter of the field would equal
1 mile? Explain.

21. Look for a Pattern What is the result if you multiply a number of cups
8 fluid ounces 1 cup
by _________
1 cup and then multiply the result by _________
8 fluid ounces
? Give an
example.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

22. Make a Conjecture 1 hour = 3,600 seconds and 1 mile = 5,280 feet.
Make a conjecture about how you could convert a speed of 15 miles per
hour to feet per second. Then convert.

192 Unit 3
 LESSON
Converting Between 6.RP.3d

7.4 Measurement Systems

Use ratio reasoning to
convert measurement units;
manipulate and transform
units appropriately when
multiplying or dividing
quantities. Also 6.RP.3,

?
6.RP.3b
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How can you use ratios to convert measurements?

6.RP.3d
EXPLORE ACTIVITY

Converting Inches to Centimeters

You have used ratio reasoning to convert measurement units within the
customary system and within the metric system. Now you will use ratios such
as 1 inch to 2.54 centimeters to convert between systems.

The length of a sheet of paper is 11 inches. What is this length in centimeters?

A You can use a bar diagram to solve this problem. Each part represents
1 inch.

1 inch = centimeter(s)

11 in.

1 in.

cm

B How does the diagram help you solve the problem?

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

C 11 inches = centimeters

Reflect
1. Another way to solve this problem is to write a proportion and find
equivalent ratios. How is this method similar to using the diagram?
×

1 inch
____________ 11 inches
_____ = _________________
2.54 centimeters centimeters
×

Lesson 7.4 193

 Using Conversion Factors
The table shows equivalencies between the customary and metric systems.
You can use these equivalencies to find conversion factors for converting a
measurement in one system to a measurement in the other system.

Customary to Metric Conversion

Length Weight/Mass Capacity
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters 1 ounce ≈ 28.3 grams 1 fluid ounce ≈ 29.6 milliliters
1 foot ≈ 0.305 meter 1 pound ≈ 0.454 kilogram 1 quart ≈ 0.946 liter
1 yard ≈ 0.914 meter 1 gallon ≈ 3.79 liters
1 mile ≈ 1.61 kilometers

Metric to Customary Conversion

Length Weight/Mass Capacity
1 centimeter ≈ 0.39 inch 1 gram ≈ 0.035 ounce 1 milliliter ≈ 0.034 fluid ounce
Math On the Spot 1 meter ≈ 3.28 feet 1 kilogram ≈ 2.20 pounds 1 liter ≈ 1.06 quarts
my.hrw.com
1 meter ≈ 1.09 yards 1 liter ≈ 0.264 gallon
1 kilometer ≈ 0.621 mile

Most conversions are approximate, as indicated by the symbol ≈.

EXAMPLE 1 6.RP.3d

While working out, Alima adds 11.35 kilograms to the machine.

About how many pounds does she add?

STEP 1 Find the conversion factor for converting kilograms to pounds.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company • Image Credits: ©Clark Brennan/Alamy

1 kilogram ≈ 2.20 pounds

Write the conversion factor as

2.20 pounds
a ratio: _________
1 kilogram

STEP 2 Convert the given measurement.

2.20 pounds
11.35 kilograms × _________
1 kilogram
≈ pounds

__ 2.20 pounds
_____ × _________
11.35 kilograms _____ ≈ 24.97 pounds
_
1_kilogram

Alima adds about 25 pounds.

Personal YOUR TURN

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Online Practice
2. 6 quarts ≈ liters 3. 14 feet ≈ meters
and Help
my.hrw.com 4. 255.6 grams ≈ ounces 5. 7 liters ≈ quarts

194 Unit 3
 Converting Measurements to
Solve Problems
When you solve problems that involve multiplying or dividing measurements,
you need to be careful to convert the units correctly. Math On the Spot
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EXAMPL 2
EXAMPLE 6.RP.3, 6.RP.3b, 6.RP.3d

Bob’s driveway is 45 feet long by 18 feet wide. He plans to

pave the entire driveway. The asphalt paving costs $24 per
square meter. What will be the total cost of the paving? 45 ft

STEP 1 First find the dimensions of the driveway in meters. 18 ft

My Notes
Convert each measurement to meters.
Use 1 foot ≈ 0.305 meter.
0.305 meter
Length: 45 feet × _________ ≈ 13.725 meters
1 foot The length and width are
0.305 meter approximate because the
Width: 18 feet × _________ ≈ 5.49 meters conversion between feet
1 foot
and meters is approximate.
STEP 2 Next find the area in square meters.

area = length × width

≈ 13.725 × 5.49
≈ 75.35025 square meters
STEP 3 Now find the total cost of the paving. Math Talk
Mathematical Practices

square meters × cost per square meter = total cost About how many square feet
are there in a square
75.35025 × $24 ≈ $1,808.41 meter? Explain.

Reflect
6. Error Analysis Yolanda found the area of Bob’s driveway in square
meters as shown. Explain why Yolanda’s answer is incorrect.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Area = 45 × 18 = 810 square feet

0.305 meter
810 square feet × _________
1 foot
≈ 247.05 square meters

Lesson 7.4 195

 YOUR TURN
7. A flower bed is 2 meters wide and 3 meters long. What is the area
Personal of the flower bed in square feet? Round your answer to the nearest
Math Trainer
Online Practice
hundredth.
and Help
my.hrw.com square feet

Guided Practice
Complete each diagram to solve the problem. (Explore Activity)

1. Kate ran 5 miles. How far did she run in 2. Alex filled a 5-gallon jug with water. How
kilometers? many liters of water are in the container?

5 miles ≈ kilometers 5 gallons ≈ liters

Use a conversion factor to convert each measurement. (Examples 1 and 2)

3. A ruler is 12 inches long. What is the length 4. A kitten weighs 4 pounds. What is the
of this ruler in centimeters? approximate mass of the kitten in kilograms?

centimeters kilograms

Convert each measurement. (Examples 1 and 2)

5. 20 yards ≈ meters 6. 12 ounces ≈ grams

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

7. 5 quarts ≈ liters 8. 400 meters ≈ yards
9. 10 liters ≈ gallons 10. 137.25 meters ≈ feet
11. 165 centimeters ≈ inches 12. 10,000 kilometers ≈ miles

? ESSENTIAL QUESTION CHECK-IN

13. Show two methods you can use to convert 60 inches to centimeters.

196 Unit 3
 Name Class Date

7.4 Independent Practice Personal

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Tell which measure is greater. 25. Which container holds more, a half-gallon
milk jug or a 2-liter juice bottle?
14. Six feet or two meters

15. One inch or one centimeter

26. The label on a can of lemonade gives the
16. One yard or one meter
volume as 12 fl oz, or 355 mL. Verify that these
17. One mile or one kilometer two measurements are nearly equivalent.

18. One ounce or one gram

19. One quart or one liter 27. The mass of a textbook is 1.25 kilograms.
About how many pounds is this?
20. 10 pounds or 10 kilograms

21. Four liters or one gallon

28. Critique Reasoning Michael estimated
22. Two miles or three kilometers
his mass as 8 kilograms. Is his estimate
23. What is the limit in kilograms? reasonable? Justify your answer.

29. Your mother bought a three-liter bottle of

water. When she got home, she discovered
weight limit for checked a small leak in the bottom and asked you to
baggage: 50 pounds find a container to transfer the water into.
All you could find were two half-gallon jugs.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company • Image Credits: (t) ©D. Hurst/

a. Will your containers hold all of the water?

24. What is the limit in miles per hour?

b. What If? Suppose an entire liter of water

Alamy; (b) ©Andrew Holt/Alamy

leaked out in the car. In that case, would

you be able to fit all of the remaining
water into one of the half-gallon jugs?

Lesson 7.4 197

30. The track team ran a mile and a quarter during its
practice. How many kilometers did the team run?

31. A countertop is 16 feet long and 3 feet wide.

a. What is the area of the countertop in square
meters?
b. Tile costs $28 per square meter. How much will it
cost to cover the countertop with new tile?

32. At a school picnic, your teacher asks you to mark a field every ten yards so
students can play football. The teacher accidentally gave you a meter stick
instead of a yard stick. How far apart in meters should you mark the lines
if you still want them to be in the right places?

33. You weigh a gallon of 2% milk in science class and learn that it is
approximately 8.4 pounds. You pass the milk to the next group, and then
realize that your teacher wanted an answer in kilograms. Explain how you
can adjust your answer without making another measurement. Then give
the mass in kilograms.

FOCUS ON HIGHER ORDER THINKING Work Area

34. Analyze Relationships Annalisa, Keiko, and Stefan want to compare

their heights. Annalisa is 64 inches tall. Stefan tells her, “I’m about
7.5 centimeters taller than you.” Keiko knows she is 1.5 inches shorter
than Stefan. Give the heights of all three people in both inches and
centimeters to the nearest half unit.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

35. Communicate Mathematical Ideas Mikhael wants to install flooring in

his fitness room. The flooring costs $20 per square yard. Explain how to
find the price per square meter.

198 Unit 3
 MODULE QUIZ

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7.1 Ratios, Rates, Tables, and Graphs Online Practice
and Help
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1. Charlie runs laps around a track. The table shows how long it takes him to
run different numbers of laps. How long would it take Charlie to run 5 laps?
Number of Laps 2 4 6 8 10
Time (min) 10 20 30 40 50

7.2 Applying Ratio and Rate Reasoning

2. Emily is entering a bicycle race for charity. Her mother pledges $0.40
for every 0.25 mile she bikes. If Emily bikes 15 miles, how much will her

mother donate?

3. Rob is saving to buy a new MP3 player. For every $15 he earns
babysitting, he saves $6. On Saturday, Rob earned $75 babysitting.

How much money did he save?

7.3 Converting Within Measurement Systems

Convert each measurement.

4. 18 meters = centimeters 5. 5 pounds = ounces

6. 6 quarts = fluid ounces 7. 9 liters = milliliters

7.4 Converting Between Measurement Systems

Convert each measurement.

8. 5 inches = centimeters 9. 198.9 grams ≈ ounces

10. 8 gallons ≈ liters 11. 12 feet ≈ meters
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

12. Write a real-world problem that could be solved using a proportion.

Module 7 199
 MODULE 7 Personal
MIXED REVIEW Math Trainer
Online Practice
Assessment Readiness my.hrw.com and Help

1. Consider each table. Is the unit rate equal to 5 gallons per minute?
Select Yes or No for the tables in A–C.
A. Time (min) 6 8 16 22
Yes No

Water (gal) 15 20 40 55

B. TIme (min) 5 10 15 20
Yes No

Water (gal) 15 30 45 60

C. TIme (min) 7 14 15 20
Yes No

Water (gal) 35 70 75 100

2. The graph below represents the distance Manuel jogs over several hours.
10
Choose True or False for each statement.

Distance (mi)
8
A. If Manuel continues at the same rate, 6
the point (3, 18) will be on the graph. True False 4
B. Manuel jogs 6 miles in 1.25 hours. True False 2
C. Manuel jogs 4 _12 miles in _34 hour. True False O 2 4 6 8 10
Time (h)
3. Jonah’s and his aunt’s houses are 8,750 meters apart. Jonah’s walking speed
is 5 kilometers per hour. How long will it take him to walk from his house to
his aunt’s house? Explain your thinking.

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

10
4. The unlabeled graph shows the relationship between two customary units
8
of measure. Identify a pair of units that can be represented by the graph.
6
Explain your reasoning.
4
2

O 2 4 6 8 10

200 Unit 3