Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. Section 8.1 Basic Terms and Conversions Within the Metric System

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. What You Will Learn SI System U.S. Customary System Basic Units How to convert form one unit to another 8.1-2

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. SI System and U.S. Customary System Most countries of the world use the Systéme international d’unités or SI system. The SI system is referred to as the metric system in the United States. Two systems of weights and measures exist side by side in the United States today, U.S customary system and the metric system

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. Advantages to Using the Metric System The metric system is the worldwide accepted standard measurement system. There is only one basic unit of measurement for each physical quantity. The SI system is based on the number 10, allowing less need for fractions

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. Basic Terms a little more than a quart volume l liter about 2.2 pounds masskgkilogram a little more than a yard lengthmmeter Comparison to Customary Common Use AbbrevMetric Term 8.1-5

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. Metric Prefixes 1/1000 of base unitmmilli 1/100 of base unitccenti 1/10 of base unitddeci base unit 10 × base unitdadeka 100 × base unithhecto 1000 × base unitkkilo MeaningSymbolPrefix 8.1-6

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. Changing Units within the Metric System To change from a smaller unit to a larger unit move the decimal point in the original quantity one place to the left for each larger unit of measure until you obtain the desired unit of measure

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. Changing Units within the Metric System To change from a larger unit to a smaller unit, move the decimal point in the original quantity one place to the right for each smaller unit of measure until you obtain the desired unit of measure

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. Changing Units within the Metric System Measure of length kilometerhectometerdekameter Symbolkmhmdam Number of meters 1000 m100 m10 m Measure of length meterdecimetercentimetermillimeter Symbolmdmcmmm Number of meters 1 m0.1 m0.01 m0.001 m 8.1-9

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. Example 1: Changing Units Convert m to km. Solution Meters is a smaller unit than km. Move the decimal 3 places to the left, m = km

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. Example 1: Changing Units Convert 14 g to cg. Solution Gram is a larger unit than centigram. Move the decimal point 2 places to the right 14 g = 1400 cg

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. Example 1: Changing Units Convert 0.76 l to m l. Solution Liter is a larger unit than milliliter. Move the decimal point 3 places to the right, 0.76 l = 760 m l

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. Example 1: Changing Units Convert 240 da l to k l. Solution Decaliter is a smaller unit than kiloliter. Move the decimal point 2 places to the left, 240 da l = 24.0 k l

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. Example 2: Two More Conversions Convert 502 mm to hectometers. Solution Millimeter is a smaller unit than hectometer. Move the decimal point 5 places to the left, 502 mm = hm

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. Example 2: Two More Conversions Convert 6.34 dam to decimeters. Solution Dekameter is a larger unit than decimeter. Move the decimal point 2 places to the right, 6.34 dam = 634 dm

Copyright 2013, 2010, 2007, Pearson, Education, Inc. Example 4: Comparing Lengths Arrange in order from smallest to largest lengths: 3.4 m, 3421 mm, and 104 cm. Solution Convert all lengths to mm 3.4 m = 3400 mm 3421 mm 104 cm = 1040 mm From smallest to largest: 104 cm, 3.4 m, 3421 mm