C HAPTER

Measurement and
mensuration

3.1 SI units
Exercises 3.1
1

Express each of the following in terms of the basic unit, either as an integer or a decimal:
a 1 km
b 1 mg
c 1 Mm
d 1g
e 1t
f
1
m

Express:
a 37 mm in metres
c 63 m in kilometres

b
d

0.52 t in kilograms
23 000 g in tonnes

3.2 Estimations
Exercises 3.2
(The answers given are only approximate. Any answer of about the same magnitude will
satisfy.)
1

A person in a library estimates that there are about 25 books on each metre of shelving,
about 50 shelves each about 6 metres long, and 20 shelves that are about 20 metres long.
What is her estimate of the total number of books on the shelves?

3.3 Approximations
Exercises 3.3
In each case below approximate the value mentally to 1 decimal place.
3.28
2
2

1 (5.86   32.4)
2
7.63 
19.2


3.4 Accuracy of measurement

Exercises 3.4
1

State the MPE, correct to 1 significant figure, in each of the following measurements:
Chapter 3 Measurement and Mensuration

23

a
2

72 m  0.5%

2.4 t  8%

State the MP%E, correct to 1 significant figure, in each of the following measurements:
a 35  2 mm
b 2.8  0.5 t
c 56 500  200 km

3.6 Implied accuracy in a stated

measurement
Exercises 3.5
1

For each of the following stated measurements, find: (i) the MPE, (ii) the MP%E and
(iii) the limits of accuracy of the measurement:
a 0.123 g
b 5.2 kg
c 823 t

Write each of the following numbers correct to 2 decimal places:

a 3.8449
b 12.994
c 12.999

3.7 Additional calculator exercises

involving squares and square
roots
Exercises 3.6
Use a calculator to evaluate the following correct to 3 significant figures:
1

5.182 

3.172 
2.982






5.26


9.21

(1.12  2.13  2.09 )



45.6  67.9



1.26 
8.72






95.9


73
.4

(3.172  2.272)3


65.2 
18.7
3
(4.22  1.88)

2 2

2
8.212  5.14

2
1.26  2.99

3.8 Pythagoras theorem

Exercises 3.7
1

24

Starting from point P, a person walks due north a distance of 250 m and then due east a
distance of 180 m to point Q. What percentage of the distance walked would the person
have saved by cutting the corner (i.e. by walking in a straight line from P to Q)?

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Pulley wheels having diameters of 84.0 mm

and 226 mm are situated with their centres
855 mm apart. Find the length of the
connecting belt between P and Q, the points
where the belt contacts the wheels.

Q
P

In a flight of steps, each tread is 287 mm and

each riser is 213 mm. Find the length of the
handrail required to be placed above the 13
treads.

handrail

13th tread
213
287

In the ideal figures below, the lengths of the sides of the triangles are labelled, in metres.
Find the exact values of the pronumerals. (The marked angles are right angles.)
a

b
x
15

13

18

12
10
t

26

3.11 The area of a rectangle

Exercises 3.9
1

A steel tape measure is 50 m long and 11.4 mm wide. What is the area of one side of this
tape in square metres?

3.12 The area of a triangle

Exercises 3.10
In the (ideal) figures below, find the shaded areas.
Exercises requiring application of Pythagoras theorem are labelled (P).
Chapter 3 Measurement and Mensuration

25

9m

4m
26 m

B
A

10 m

1m

2m

AC  7 m
AD  5 m
BE  4 m
Find:
a the area of the shaded triangle
b the length of segment BC

5m

5
6m

26 m

10 m
C

(P)

7
4m

13 m

2.5 m
3m
3m

C is the centre of the circle.

3.13 The circle: circumference and

area
Exercises 3.11
State answers correct to 3 significant figures.

26

Find the area of a circle whose circumference measures 34.6 mm.

Find the circumference of a circle whose area is 2050 m2.

Find the circumference of a circle whose area is 0.644 m2.

CD Supplement to accompany Mathematics for Technicians

Find the areas of the shaded regions. (The points labelled C mark the centre of a circular arc.)
a

6m
C
6m

6m

3m
5m

6m

30 m

8.4 m

8.4 m

20 m
5.3 m

64 mm

86 mm

3.14 Volumes of prisms

Exercises 3.12
1

Find the volume of this symmetrical container in litres:

2.0 m
160 mm
110 mm
120 mm

Chapter 3 Measurement and Mensuration

27

A cylindrical rod has diameter 8.00 mm and length 3.50 m. Find its volume in cubic
centimetres.

Find, in cubic metres, the volume of 650 km of wire of diameter 1.5 mm.

What length of copper rod of diameter 8.00 mm can be made from 1.00 m3 of copper?

A cylindrical can contains 1.0 L of liquid. Given that its internal diameter is 84 mm, find
the depth of liquid in the can, in millimetres.

3.15 Surface areas of prisms

Exercises 3.13
Find the surface areas of the following bodies described in Exercises 3.12. For the purposes of
these exercises, assume that all dimensions given are correct to 0.1%. State all answers correct
to 3 significant figures.

28

The internal surface area of the open container in question 1, in cm2.

The solid rod in question 2, in cm2.

The wire in question 3, in m2.

The internal surface area of the open can in question 5 in cm2, given that the depth of the
can is 199 mm.

CD Supplement to accompany Mathematics for Technicians