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⇱ Trades Math | Coursera


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Trades Math

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 hour to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 hour to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Read and convert fractions

  • Measure length and elevation

  • Solve problems involving ratios and proportions

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Recently updated!

June 2026

Assessments

7 assignments

Taught in English

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the HVAC: Your First Step Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 6 modules in this course

Develop the essential math skills needed to succeed in the skilled trades. In this course, you’ll learn how to read and convert fractions, perform everyday calculations, and apply key concepts like measurements, ratios, and percentages. By the end, you’ll be able to confidently solve common job-site problems and work with the numbers that drive real-world tasks across trades.

This course is designed to give you a practical, easy-to-understand foundation in trades math. You’ll explore how math applies directly to tasks like converting inches to feet, calculating area, and interpreting measurements used daily by professionals in HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and more. Whether you’re new to the trades or need a refresher, this course equips you with the core math skills needed to work efficiently and effectively.

In this module, we will learn about the fundamental mathematical principles required for accuracy in the HVAC trades. We'll start by mastering how to read and visualize fractions using common tools like tape measures, then move into practical techniques for converting decimals to fractions and feet to inches. This lesson provides the essential toolkit for translating complex measurements into usable dimensions on the job.

What's included

3 videos2 assignments

3 videosTotal 6 minutes
  • Introduction1 minute
  • Reading Fractions2 minutes
  • Converting Fractions3 minutes
2 assignmentsTotal 6 minutes
  • Knowledge Check: Reading Fractions3 minutes
  • Knowledge Check: Converting Fractions3 minutes

In this module, we will learn about the various units of measurement that trade professionals use every day to install and repair mechanical systems. We’ll explore the fundamentals of linear distance and elevation, the importance of weight in equipment support, and the more complex calculations involving pressure and temperature. This lesson previews how becoming comfortable with these different scales and units is a vital step toward becoming a successful technician in the field.

What's included

1 video1 assignment

1 videoTotal 3 minutes
  • Measurements3 minutes
1 assignmentTotal 3 minutes
  • Knowledge Check: Measurements3 minutes

In this module, we will learn about the foundational roles that ratios and proportions play in daily trade operations, from reading blueprints to calculating material quantities. We’ll preview how to set up mathematical formulas for concrete mixtures and verify if mechanical equipment is operating correctly by checking for equal proportions. This lesson sets the stage for mastering the cross-multiplication skills needed to estimate materials and verify system specifications accurately on the job.

What's included

1 video1 assignment

1 videoTotal 3 minutes
  • Ratios and Proportions3 minutes
1 assignmentTotal 3 minutes
  • Knowledge Check: Ratios and Proportions3 minutes

This lesson introduces the essential role of percentages in trade industries, highlighting their use in measuring equipment efficiency, calculating mixture proportions, and determining tolerances. Learners will master the mechanics of converting values between fractions, decimals, and percentages, including the "two-digit rule" for decimal placement. Finally, it demonstrates how to solve practical percent equations using proportions to track job progress and chemical treatments.

What's included

1 video1 assignment

1 videoTotal 3 minutes
  • Percentages3 minutes
1 assignmentTotal 3 minutes
  • Knowledge Check: Percentages3 minutes

This lesson covers the fundamental mathematical principles of perimeter, area, and volume as they apply to trade work like piping and conduit installation. Learners will explore the distinct differences between two-dimensional measurements (distance around and space within a shape) and three-dimensional measurements (total space occupied by a solid). By practicing with specific formulas for squares, rectangles, and prisms, students will gain the skills necessary to accurately measure and calculate material requirements on the job.

What's included

1 video1 assignment

1 videoTotal 2 minutes
  • Perimeter, Area and Volume2 minutes
1 assignmentTotal 3 minutes
  • Knowledge Check: Perimeter, Area and Volume3 minutes

This final knowledge check is designed to reinforce key concepts from the lesson and assess your understanding. You’ll apply what you’ve learned through a series of multiple choice questions, helping ensure you’re confident and ready to move forward.

What's included

1 assignment

1 assignmentTotal 18 minutes
  • Final Knowledge Check18 minutes

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Instructor

Interplay Learning
23 Courses370 learners

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Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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