Metric and Imperial Units

Use this page to complete Investigation 1 - Metric and Imperial Units.

Question: What is the relationship between inches (imperial system) and centimetres
(metric system)?

Example: An example of a conjecture for this relationship might be:

As the number of inches increases, the number of centimetres increases by the

same amount.

Check Your Understanding

In this conjecture, the independent variable is number of inches. What in the

sentence tells you that? Because in the sentence, the number of centimetres
hinges on the number of inches.

What is your intuition? Incorrect Do you think this is true? Yes How will you find
out? By calculating

Write a conjecture of your own describing the relationship between inches and
centimetres.

As the number of inches increases, the number of centimetres increases by 2.54

times the increase in inches.

What is your independent variable? Your dependent variable? Independent is inches,

centimetres is dependent

Collecting and Representing the Data

• Use the online converter to collect data.
 • Collect the data into a table of values.

Inches Centimetres
1 2.54
2 5.08
3 7.62
4 10.2
5 12.7
6 15.2

Getting Information from a Scatter Plot

1. Use your data to create a scatter plot. Label the axes with the names for the
independent and dependent variables. You can create your scatter plot using the
grid below, or you can create one using scatter plot software. You can also create
a scatter plot with paper and pencil and then take a picture of your finished work
and include it here.
 2. Looking at the scatter plot, is this relationship a linear or non-linear relation. How
do you know?
Linear, because it is straight

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Using Technology to Create an Equation to Represent a Relation

You have decided that the relationship is either linear or non-linear.

In a moment, you will choose to follow one of two links to graphing software: one link is
Linear Relation (if you decided that the relationship is linear) and the second link is
Quadratic Relation (if you decided that the relation is non-linear). Each link will open a
desmos file that will allow you to further analyze your data.

● You will enter you data into the table of values.

● A line or curve of best fit will be drawn automatically based on the values you
enter, so be sure that you are accurate as you enter the values.
● The equation of that line/curve of best fit will not be shown. You will be
generating the equation yourself:
○ You will use the sliders provided to determine the values for the
algebraic equation for the line/curve of best fit .
○ When you have a line or curve of best fit that matches the best fit
line/curve that was created by desmos, you will have determined a
relation equation that models the data.
○ Record that equation, which is the algebraic representation of the
relation, on their investigation sheets.
○ Answer any questions that remain on your investigation sheet.

If you think a straight line best fits the data, then select Linear Relation.
If you think a curve best fits the data (i.e. the data is non-linear), then select Quadratic
Relation.

Answer the following questions:

1. Circle the correct unit in the bracket:

a. x in the technology represents ((inches) centimetres) in the relation
b. y in the technology represents (inches (centimetres)) in the relation.

2. Write the equation that was determined using technology.

y=2.3543x+0.016
 3. Rewrite the equation using the appropriate units.

# cm = 2.5343 inches + 0.016 inches

4. Use words to explain the relationship between inches and centimetres.

The number of centimetres is approximately 2.53 times the amount of inches.

Using the information you now have

1. Show on your graph how you would know that 2.5 cm is approximately
equivalent to 1 inch.

The slope of the graph is about 2.5.

2. Describe how you could use the graph to determine the value in centimetres if
you are given a specific number of inches?

Find the number of inches, go up until you hit the line and go left until you hit the Y-axis
of cm

3. Describe how you could use the equation you got to determine an equivalent
number of centimetres if you knew the number of inches?

You substitute X for the number of inches and the formula ends up spitting out the
number of cm

4. What would you do to determine the value in inches if you knew the number of
centimetres?

Divide the number of cm by 2.54

Reflect on the work you did in Activity 3. Recall that you learned about scale factor.
 1. What is the scale factor that will convert inches to centimetres?

2.54

Extend Your Thinking

How would the following characteristics of the representations change if the

independent and dependent variables were switched?

Characteristic Describe the change

Table of Values The numbers would switch sides

Scatter plot

The line would be close to horizontal (slope (1/2.54)

Description of relation in words

The words would be in opposite spots

Equation The multiplier would be by 1/2.54 and not 2.54

Would it make sense to set up the graph like this?  Why or why not?
Consolidate the Investigation

When we are changing a measurement from one measurement system to another

measurement system, we refer to the scale factor as a conversion factor.

Describe the relation between inches and centimetres. Did your findings confirm your
conjecture? If your answer is “Yes”, explain how you know. If your answer is “No”,
explain what you were thinking about at the start.
Yes. I know because I remembered that 2.54 cm is one inch.
Now that you have gathered data about the relationship between inches and
centimetres, think about how you might refine your conjecture:
● Is the wording mathematically precise?
● Could it be more detailed? (Do you know things about the relationship that you
did not know before?)