AQA GCSE Maths

Revision Notes

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(Unit Conversion & Time)

Squared and Cubic Units

Square and Cubic Units

Converting Squared Units (Area)

When converting squared units, the conversion factor must be squared because area measures two-dimensional space.

Common Area Conversions:

  • 1 cm2cm^2 = 100 mm2mm^2
  • 1 m2m^2 = 10,000 cm2cm^2
  • 1 km2km^2 = 1,000,000 m2m^2
  • 1 hectare (ha) = 10,000 m2m^2

Example: Convert 8254 mm2mm^2 to cm2cm^2.

1cm2=100mm21 cm^2 = 100 mm^2

8254÷100=82.54cm28254 \div 100 = 82.54 cm^2

Final Answer: 82.54 cm2cm^2.

Example: Convert 3.5 m2m^2 to cm2cm^2.

1m2=10,000cm21 m^2 = 10,000 cm^2

3.5×10,000=35,000cm23.5 \times 10,000 = 35,000 cm^2

Final Answer: 35,000 cm2cm^2.

 
Converting Cubic Units (Volume)

When converting cubic units, the conversion factor must be cubed because volume measures three-dimensional space.

Common Volume Conversions:

  • 1 cm3cm^3 = 1000 mm3mm^3
  • 1 m3m^3 = 1,000,000 cm3cm^3
  • 1 km3km^3 = 1,000,000,000 m3m^3

Example: Convert 2.54 m3m^3 to cm3cm^3.

1m3=1,000,000cm31m^3 = 1,000,000 cm^3

2.54×1,000,000=2,540,000cm32.54 \times 1,000,000 = 2,540,000 cm^3

Final Answer: 2,540,000 cm3cm^3.

Example: Convert 450 cm3cm^3 to mm3mm^3.

1cm3=1000mm31 cm^3 = 1000 mm^3

450×1000=450,000mm3450 \times 1000 = 450,000 mm^3

Final Answer: 450,000 mm3mm^3.

 

 

 

Tuity Tip

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Always square the conversion factor for area conversions (e.g., 1m2=1002cm2=10,000cm21 m^2 = 100^2 cm^2 = 10,000 cm^2).

Always cube the conversion factor for volume conversions (e.g., 1m3=1003cm3=1,000,000cm31 m^3 = 100^3 cm^3 = 1,000,000 cm^3).

Double-check units—area uses cm2cm^2, m2m^2, while volume uses cm3cm^3, m3m^3.

Break complex conversions into smaller steps—e.g., convert mcmm \to cm first, then apply squaring or cubing.

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