VICTORINO MAPA HIGH SCHOOL

S.Y. 2013 2014 ACTIVITY 3.2 - MATHEMATICS 7

Name: ___________________________________________ Gr. And Sec.: ____________ Score: ________

Historical Background
The first systems of measurement were developed when people wanted to find out how far they lived from another
place, how much land they had, or what time of the day it was.
The Egyptians and the Babylonians were the first to devise a system of measurement. The Egyptians based their system
on human body. For example, a digit is the width of the index finger, while the palm is the width of four digits. A cubit is the
distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. Seven palms make a cubit.
Other ancient civilizations also had their own ways of measuring. The Chinese and Egyptians divided into tenths. The
Romans divided units into twelfths, such as 12 inches in a foot or 12 months in a year. The Hindus divided units into halves,
quarters and sixteenths. The ancient Babylonians used 60 divisions.
Because of these differences, there was a need to establish standard units of measure that would allow people to arrive
at the same measure each time they measure an item.
With the advancement of science and technology, a more convenient and consistent system of measurement was
developed at the end of 18
th
century A group of scientists from many centuries was called by the French Academy of Science to
establish international standard of measures. This was the beginning of the Metric System.
The two systems of measurement that have evolved are the English System and the Metric System.
Test I: Answer the following. Write your answer on the space provided before the number.
_______________1. They based their system of measurement on the human body.
_______________ 2. The distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger.
_______________ 3. A process of comparing something with a chosen standard.
_______________ 4. Division of units used by the Chinese and Egyptians in measuring something.
_______________ 5. The year where fixed units of standard measure were established.

Non Standard units of Measurement:
1. Digit (dali) width of the index finger.
2. Palm (dangkal) distance from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger when the hand is spread out fully.
3. Span (dipa) distance of two extended arms.
4. Foot (talampakan) the distance from the heel to the tip of the great toe.
5. Pace (hakbang) the distance from the heel of one foot to the heel of the other foot when walking.
6. Cubit distance from the elbow to the tip of the longest finger.
7. Yard length of the arm from the shoulder to the tip of the middle finger.

Item Shortest group member Tallest group member Meter stick or ruler
A] Length of the chalkboard (dipa)
B] Length of the classroom (hakbang)
C] Length of the teachers table (hakbang)
D] length of the flat form (talampakan)
E] Length of the math notebook (dali)

1. What are the advantages of using body parts as units of measure?
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2. What are the disadvantages of using body parts as units of measure?
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3. What are the advantages of using the meter stick or the ruler as a basis of measurement?
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Test II: Which of the following are expressed in standard units of measure? Answer Yes or No.
_____ 1] 10 paces _____ 6] 4 steps
_____ 2] 5 dangkal _____ 7] 3 kilos
_____ 3] 12 hours _____ 8] 6 talampakan
_____ 4] 20 meters _____ 9] 25 liters
_____ 5] 8 arm lengths _____ 10] 11 gallons