The Metric System The metric system is a measurement system based on our decimal (base 10) number system. Other countries and all scientists and engineers use the metric system for measurement.

Changing Metric Units To change from one unit to another in the metric system you simply multiply or divide by a power of 10.

Metric Prefixes The metric system has prefix modifiers that are multiples of 10. Prefix Symbol Factor Number Factor Word Kilo- k 1000 Thousand Hecto- h 100 Hundred Deca- da or dk 10 Ten Unit m, l, or g 1 One Deci- d .1 Tenth Centi- c .01 Hundredth Milli- m .001 thousandth

Centimeter A fingernail is about 1 centimeter wide A staple is about 1 centimeter long

To change from a larger unit to a smaller unit, you need to multiply. 1 km x 1000 = 1000 m 1 m x 100 = 100 cm 1 cm x 10 = 10mm

Hectometer A hectometer is about the length of a soccer field. A hectometer is about the height of Big Ben, the famous clock tower in London.

Decimeter A crayon is about 1 decimeter long The palm of an adult is about 1 decimeter wide

To change from smaller units to larger units you divide by a power of ten. 1000mm ÷ 10 = 100cm 100cm ÷ 10 = 10dm 10dm ÷ 10 = 1m

Place Values of Metric Prefixes Move the decimal point to the right to multiply. Thousand Hundred Ten One Tenth Hundredth Thousandth km kL kg hm hL hg dkm dkL dkg m L g dm dL dg cm cL cg mm mL mg

Decameter A decameter is about the length of the end zone of a football field. A decameter is about the length of a school bus.

Place Values of Metric Prefixes Thousand Hundred Ten One Tenth Hundredth Thousandth km kg kL hm hg hL dkm dkg dkL m g L dm dg dL cm cg cL mm mg mL

Kilometer A kilometer is about six city A kilometer is a little over half a mile.

Place Values of Metric Prefixes Move the decimal point to the left to divide. Thousand Hundred Ten One Tenth Hundredth Thousandth km kL kg hm hL hg dkm dkL dkg m L g dm dL dg cm cL cg mm mL mg

Meters A meter is about the width of a doorway A meter is about the length of a guitar.

Place Values of Metric Prefixes km kg kL hm hg hL dkm dkg dkL m g L dm dg dL cm cg cL mm mg mL 3km 30hm 300dkm 3000m 4L 30000dm 300000cm 12cm 3000000mm

Millimeter A credit card about 1 millimeter thick A dime is about 1 millimeter thick.