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Liters and Milliliters (Word Problems)

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Liters and Milliliters (Word Problems)
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Basics on the topic Liters and Milliliters (Word Problems)

Liters and Milliliters

How much tea fits into your favorite cup? You probably know how to measure volume using fluid ounces and gallons. But there are more units being used to determine volume. This text introduces you to how things are measured in liters and milliliters.

What Are Liters and Milliliters?

Liters and Milliliters are metric units of volume. What are liters and milliliters used for? Milliliters are often used for measuring lesser volumes of liquids, and liters are often used for higher volumes of liquids. Things measured in liters and milliliters are items such as a beaker of liquid or a jug of water.

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In the above illustration, you can see the definition of milliliters and liters along with some examples of liters and milliliters.

Solving Word Problems with Liters and Milliliters

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The first step to solving word problems is to read the entire problem. Once you have done this, you should then highlight the question, or problem, you are being asked to solve. In the following example, we highlight the last sentence.

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The next step is to ask yourself what is the important information that will help me solve the problem, and highlight the important information. For example, in the problem we would highlight both 80 L of white vinegar and share this equally into 2 containers, as these are important to solving the problem.

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After this, we need to find the operation. The keyword, share, tells us we are dividing, so we can write this operation below.

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Now we can write the number sentence using all the information we have gathered. The number sentence for this word problem is 80 divided by 2 = ? as we know they had 80 L, but want to share this between 2 containers equally.

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And finally, we solve the problem, including any units of measurement from the word problem. So, 80 divided by 2 = 40, so Zuri and Freddie will use 40 liters of white vinegar.

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Liters and Milliliters – Review

To solve word problems with liters and milliliters, you can follow the following steps:

Step # What to do
1 Read the word problem and highlight the problem.
2 Identify the important information.
3 Identify the operation.
4 Write the number sentence.
5 Solve the number sentence, including any units of measurement.

At the end of the video you will find liters and milliliters worksheets for 3rd grade.

Transcript Liters and Milliliters (Word Problems)

Zuri and Freddie are excited for their volcano experiment. They have gathered the materials needed to create the volcano eruption which are, white vinegar, water, and dish soap. To successfully create the eruption, they need to solve some volume word problems first. Liters and milliliters (word problems). Liters and milliliters are units of volume. Volume is the measure of space an object takes up. A liter is a metric measurement of volume. We use the unit symbol L after a number to represent liters. You might measure big containers of liquid with liters such as buckets or jugs. A milliliter is a metric measurement of volume often used for small amounts of liquid. We use the unit symbol ml after a number to represent milliliters. You might measure small soda bottles, or beakers with milliliters. To solve word problems involving liters and milliliters, first, read the word problem. As you read, think; what do I need to find? And highlight the question you need to solve. Zuri and Freddie have eighty liters of white vinegar. They want to share this equally into two containers, to save some for later use. How many liters of white vinegar will they use today? Here we highlight how many liters of white vinegar will they use today? Because it asks us to find how much they use. Then, reread and think; What is the important information? While rereading, highlight keywords, numbers, or units of measurement, that will help answer the question. Highlight eighty liters of white vinegar because this is the amount they have. We also highlight share this equally into two containers, since it tells us what to do with the vinegar. Next, identify the operation. The keyword share tells us we need to use division. Then, write the number sentence. We know it is eighty divided by two, because the word problem states they start with eighty liters and want to share it equally into two containers. Now we can solve the number sentence. Eighty divided by two is forty, so Zuri and Freddie will use forty liters of white vinegar. Let’s try one more word problem. First, read the word problem, and highlight what it is asking you to find. Zuri and Freddie have five hundred fifty milliliters of water, and one hundred forty-two milliliters of dish soap. They need to mix together the water and dish soap. How many milliliters of liquid will they have? We highlight how many milliliters of liquid will they have? Because this is what we are solving. What is the next step? Reread the problem, highlighting important information. Highlight five hundred fifty milliliters of water and one hundred forty-two milliliters of dish soap, because this tells us the volume of each liquid. We also highlight mix together, because it tells us what they will do with the liquids. What should you do next? Find the operation, which is addition, because the word problem states mix together. Now write the number sentence. Five hundred fifty plus one hundred forty-two. Finally, you can solve the problem. Five hundred fifty plus one hundred forty-two is six hundred ninety-two. Zuri and Freddie have six hundred ninety-two milliliters of liquid. Before Zuri and Freddie set off their volcano, let's review. Remember, to solve word problems involving volume, first, read the word problem and highlight the question you need to solve. Next, identify the important information, highlighting keywords, units of measurements, and anything that will help solve the problem. Then identify the operation from the information. Now write the number sentence. Finally, solve the number sentence, including correct units of measurement. "I really hope this works, we worked hard on this volcano!" "It's working Zuri, it's working!" "I think that worked a little too well. Next time, let's keep the volcano smaller."

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Liters and Milliliters (Word Problems) exercise

Would you like to apply the knowledge you’ve learned? You can review and practice it with the tasks for the video Liters and Milliliters (Word Problems).
  • Magic potions.

    Hints

    Remember that ml are less than L, so 50 ml is a smaller capacity than 50 L.

    Remember that there are 1,000 ml in one liter, so in half a liter there are 500 ml.

    Begin by finding the potion bottle that holds the least amount of liquid.

    Solution

    The bottle with the least amount of liquid only held 30 ml.

    The next bottle with slightly more, held $\mathbf{\frac{1}{2}}$ L, which is the same as 500 ml.

    The third bottle, when ordered by capacity of liquid, held 820 ml.

    The last bottle, holding the most, was the 3 L bottle because this is equivalent to 3,000 ml.

  • Freddie and Zuri are experimenting.

    Hints

    Look at the scale on the side of the beaker to see what intervals it is going up by and to read between the lines.

    This beaker has water that is half way between 700 ml and 800 ml, so it must be 750 ml.

    There are three different liquids that they use, so Freddie and Zuri must add these all together.

    Solution
    • First we must add the three amounts:
    300 ml + 50 ml + 130 ml = 480 ml
    • The first beaker has the liquid on the interval above 500 ml. The scale is going up in steps of 100 ml, so the liquid is at 600 ml.
    • The second beaker has the liquid exactly in line with 300. So it holds 300 ml.
    • The third beaker shows that the liquid is more than 800 ml, but less than 850 ml, so is approximately 820 ml.
    • The fourth beaker has the liquid below 500, but above 450, so it is approximately 480 ml. So this is the correct answer.
  • Party time!

    Hints

    Decide whether you need to do an addition, a subtraction, a multiplication, or a division problem.

    If two guests are sharing a drink, this means they will divide it between the two.

    Solution

    • Freddie had 2 cups of juice, each cup held 260 ml, in total he drank 520 ml.
    2 x 260 = 520

    • Zuri poured herself a tall 300 ml glass of juice, but only managed to drink 125 ml. How much was left in her glass? 175 ml.
    300 - 125 = 175

    • Gus poured himself enough juice to last the whole evening. He poured four 220 ml cups full. In total he had 880 ml.
    4 x 220 = 880

    • Nia and Nico decided to share a glass of lemonade. They filled the 300 ml glass to the top. They had half each, so each drank 150 ml.
    300 $\div$ 2 = 150

  • Using all four operations to solve capacity problems.

    Hints

    A tip to divide by 4 is to half and half again.

    Try using partitioning when multiplying mentally. Start with multiplying the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.

    Solution
    • In the first question there is 360 ml which we need to share equally between 4 glasses. This means that we have to divide.
    • 360 ÷ 4 = 90
    • In the second question it asks to find how much liquid in total, this means we need to multiply to find 3 times 215.
    • 3 x 215 = 645
    • In the third question it asks how much is left after the milk spilled out of the carton. This means we need to do subtraction.
    • 450 - 75 = 375
    • In the last question it asks us to find how much altogether so we need to add the two drinks together.
    • 418 + 270 = 688
  • How much juice is there in total?

    Hints

    There are two pouches so we need to add together two pouches of 200 ml.

    Finding two of something is the same as doubling. Can you double 200?

    Solution

    As there are two pouches of juice and each pouch holds 200 ml we need to add: 200 + 200 = 400. So the answer is 400 ml.

  • Making milkshakes.

    Hints

    If we want the recipe for 12, what do you need to multiply these quantities by?

    There are three different liquids that need multiplying on the recipe card.

    Can the answer be in liters as well as milliliters? Check whether there are two ways of answering this question.

    Solution

    As the first recipe card serves 2 and we need to serve 12, we must multiply the ingredients by 6.

    • 50 x 6 = 300 ml cream
    • 200 x 6 = 1200 ml milk
    • 1 x 6 = 6 scoops ice cream
    • 10 x 6 = 60 ml chocolate sauce
    • We then need to add all the liquid ingredients: 300 + 1200 + 60 = 1560.
    • So the total = 1560 ml which is equivalent to 1 liter 560 ml since there 1000 ml in a L.