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Choose appropriate units of capacity

Capacity describes how much liquid a container can hold, and appropriate units are selected according to the container’s size: milliliters for small amounts and liters for larger amounts. The understanding includes using familiar benchmarks, estimating reasonably, and recognizing that 1 liter equals 1,000 milliliters, while not extending to complex conversions among multiple customary units or formulas for irregular volumes.

Detailed Explanation: Choose appropriate units of capacity

Capacity tells how much liquid a container can hold.

  • Use milliliters (mL) for small amounts, such as a spoonful, medicine cup, or juice box.
  • Use liters (L) for larger amounts, such as a pitcher, bucket, or bathtub.
  • Remember: 11 liter equals 1,0001{,}000 milliliters.

Example: A pitcher holds about 22 ___ of water. Should the unit be milliliters or liters?

  1. Think about the size of the container. A pitcher is large and holds much more than a small cup.
  2. Compare the units. A milliliter is a very small amount. A liter is a larger amount.
  3. Choose the unit that makes sense: liters.

So, the pitcher holds about 22 liters of water. If written in milliliters, this is 2×1,000=2,0002 \times 1{,}000 = 2{,}000 milliliters, which also shows that liters are a better unit for this large container.

Learn by doing: Choose appropriate units of capacity

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    Measurement Reasonable Unit - Volume (metric)

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