Directorate: Curriculum FET

SUBJECT and GRADE Mathematical Literacy Grade 10

TERM 2 Week 4
TOPIC Measurement (Measuring and Estimating)
AIMS OF LESSON You need to able to do the following:
• Identify the most suitable measuring instruments for measuring different items.
• Read and interpret measuring instruments for the different measuring units.
• Calculate the cost of different measured items.
• The 6 items below are the basic contexts you will work with:
1. Length / Distance 2. Volume 3. Mass
4. Time 5. Temperature 6. Cooking
RESOURCES Paper based resources Digital resources
In your textbook look for the topic MEASUREMENT. This should • www.siyavula.com (Chapter 5)
provide you with examples of how to measure, different measuring • www.mathsatsharp.co.za/ (worksheet 8)
instruments and costing calculations. Many textbooks have different • https://viaafrika.com/wp-
chapters for each of the six contexts. content/uploads/2019/07/Maths-Lit-G10-
studyguide.pdf
INTRODUCTION • We come across using and interpreting measuring instruments daily.
• When you go to the grocery store, you also use frequently make use of calculations including time and cost.
• This topic is closely linked to : Tariffs (rates at which you pay) ; Conversions and also Maps and plans.
• You might therefore need some of the conversion tables discussed in the lesson of week 3.
CONCEPTS AND SKILLS • We firstly need to distinguish between the two concepts: Measuring and estimating. When you CAN YOU?
measure something, you try to get the most accurate reading possible, using the most suitable
measurement tool. When you estimate, you more or less determine the measurement without the Find examples
real use of measurement tools. in everyday life
• When measuring, different tools will also provide you with different levels of accuracy e.g a stop of where
watch that uses h:min:sec as opposed to a wall clock with h:min. etc. estimation and
• Many measuring instruments will have more than one unit on them, to increase accuracy (like a measurement is
ruler: cm and mm; trip meter km and m etc.). used?
The examples below will indicate different types of measuring instruments for each context as well as
some calculations of cost: Find some real –
1. Length / Distance: life examples of
Instruments: ruler, measuring tape, odometer, scale calculations
using the six
main items.

When using a measuring The picture above shows an odometer as well as trip meter for a
tape like this to measure car.
someone for a dress to be The odometer will indicate the total distance travelled by this car. It
made, you will use the cm therefore starts at 0 and continues to increase.
and the mm parts of the A trip meter is often cleared by people when they fill their car with
tape to ensure accuracy. fuel to help calculate petrol consumption, or traveling distances.
In the example above the readings are:
ODOMETER: 135 696 km
TRIP METER: 965,4 km
Example questions of calculations with length/distance:
1. Material costs R96,25/m. Calcuate the cost of buying 4,5 m.
R96,25 x 4,5 m = R433,13
2. A taxi service charges R7,50 / km. Calculate the cost of a 20 km trip.
R7,50 x 20km = R150
2. Mass:
Instruments: bathroom scale, kitchen scale, electronic scale

The picture above is a reading from a bathroom scale. The picture above is a manual kitchen
This is useful for when you have to weigh yourself. scale. This is often used in cooking and
The person weighs: 68,7 kg, or 68 kg and 700g. This is baking when you have to weigh certain
more accurate than a scale that would only round it ingredients like: 200 g butter etc. This
to 69 kg. usually used for smaller amounts.
Example questions of calculations with mass:
1. You need 0,06kg of fertilizer per m2. Determine how much fertilizer you would need for
550 m2.
0,06kg x 550 m = 33kg
2. Bananas are sold at R16,95/kg. Calculate the cost of buying 4,6kg bananas.
R16,95x 4,6kg = R77,97
3. Volume:
Instruments: measuring spoons/cups, buckets, wheelbarrows, bottles, jugs

The picture above indicates a measuring The pictures above indicate measuring beakers
bucket, with a maximum capacity of 20liters. If that are often used in kitchens for baking or in
it is therefore halfway full the volume of liquid laboratories to make different solutions.
in the bucket would be 10 liters. Beakers like these often indicate measures in:
ml or cups.
Example questions of calculations with volume:
1. If a water bottle has a maximum capacity of 2liter, how many cups of water can it hold (1
cup = 250 ml)..
2l ÷ 0,25l = 8 cups
2. Bvalgari Rose perfume is sold at R29/ml.Calculate the cost of a 50 ml bottle of perfume.
R29 x 50ml = R1 450
4. Temperature:
Instruments: thermometers, temperature indicator on fridge, weather reports

The picture above shows a manual The picture above shows you the weather forecast
thermometer. The temperature is measured for Cape Town for 10 April (4/10). This normally
in ℃ and this thermometer uses intervals of indicates the highest temperature (max) and
10℃. It will therefore not be as accurate as lowest temperature (min). (22 and 15). It also
a thermometer that uses 1℃ intervals. indicates to you the type of weather conditions
The temperature on this thermometer is you can expect that day.
about: 22℃
Example questions of calculations with temperature:
1. A city has the following weather prediction: 12 ℃/-1 ℃. What is the temperature
difference between the max and min temp?
12 –(-1) = 13 ℃
5. Time:
Instruments: watch, stopwatch, calendar, timetable

The picture above shows a stop watch. This is Watches; smartwatches and clocks. Refer back
often used in sporting events, or to time races. to week 3 (conversions) where we explained
It often measures time in min:s:splitseconds. how to read time (different formats) and the
This makes it very accurate in determining the difference between digital and analogue time
winner of a 100 m race for instance. keeping.
 Example questions of calculations with time:
1. A runner starts a marathon at 06:12 and finishes 11:41, how long did she run for?
5h and 29 min.
2. A painter charges R55/h for any jobs done. Calculate the total to be paid if he worked 6
hours a day for 3 days.
R55 x 18h = R990
6. Cooking:
Instruments: measuring spoons/cups
These measuring cups are often used in the kitchen and will have
various sizes including: 1 cup, ½cup, ¼cup etc. The sizes can therefore
also be converted into ml seeing that 1 cup = 250 ml.
Many recipes will ask for the amount either in cups or in ml.
Refer back to the work of week 3 (conversions) for more on how to
do calculations using recipes.
ACTIVITIES/ASSESSMENT Make use of the information above to complete the worksheet below:
Traveling:
The Green family are planning a trip to Durban from Cape Town. Use the information provided to answer the questions:
1. If they leave Cape Town at 05:55, at what time
will they arrive in Durban?
2. What is the average speed that they were
driving at if they covered the 1 635,2 km in
exactly 16 h and 45 min? (remember
conversions)
You may use the formula: 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 =
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 (𝑘𝑚)
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 (ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠)
3. If the petrol price is R13,96/l and the family
used 136,25 l of petrol, calculate the cost of
petrol to drive to Durban.
Source : google maps
4. If their car had an odometer reading of 25 346
(km)when they left Cape Town, what will the
reading be when they arrive in Durban? (to
the nearest km)
ANSWERS: 1635,2
2. 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 =
16,75
1. 22:44
= 97,63km/h
3. R13,96 x 136,25 = R 1 902,05 4. 26 981
Weather forecasts:The weather forecast for their time in Durban is shown below :

Source: weather.com
1. What day will be the hottest day in Durban?
2. What day do you expact to see some lightning and thunder?
3. What is the maximum predicted temperature for Saturday?
ANSWERS:
 1. Sunday 2. Tuesday (Tue) 3. 28 ⁰
Reading and interpreting timetables:
1. What television channels are included in this
timetable?
2. What is the difference between the 7:00pm and the
8:30 pm news on SABC2?
3. Why is the 6:00 pm time slot blank for SABC 3?
4. What show will be on exactly two hours before
panic mechanic on e-TV?
5. What time format is being used in this example?
6. If a learner wants to watch American Idol, but has
to spend at least 20 minutes doing homework for 5
subjects before that- what time will he need to
start his homework?
ANSWERS:
1. SABC1,2,3 & e-TV;
2. 7:00 p.m – Afrikaans and 8:30 p.m English news
3. Days of our lives is a 1 hour long show.
4. Rhythm City
5. 12 h format
6. 5 x 20 = 100 minutes (1 hour and 40 minutes)
7:30 – 1:40 = 5:50 pm
CONSOLIDATION • Make sure that you know examples of different measuring instruments and situations in which they can be used.
• Make sure that you can do calculations using the different measuring units and that you can choose the most suitable
unit
• Make sure you know how to read, interpret and analyze calendars and timetables.
VALUES Look for different places in your everyday life where measurements and measuring tools are used.