The Metric System

The metric system -It was formulated in France in the late 18 th century. -It became our legal standard of measure as its tables are simple and they are based upon the decimal system of notation. Length The standard unit of length in the metric system is the meter. Other units of length and their equivalents in meters are as follows: 1 nanometer (nm) = meter 1 micrometer (um) = meter 1 millimeter (mm) = meter 1 centimeter (cm) = 0.01 meter 1 decimeter (dm) = 0.1 meter 1 decameter (dam) = 10 meters 1 hectometer (hm) = 100 meters 1 kilometer (km) = 1000 meters

The metric system (Cont.) Volume - The standard unit of volume in the metric system is the liter. One liter is equal to 1000 cubic centimeters in volume. Other units of volume and their equivalents in liters are as follows: 1 microliter (uL) = liter 1 milliliter (mL) = liter 1 centiliter (cL) = 0.01 liter 1 deciliter (dL) = 0.1 liter 1 dekaliter (dal) = 10 liters 1 hektoliter (hl) = 100 liters 1 kiloliter (kL) = 1000 liters

The metric system (Cont.) Mass The standard unit of mass in the metric system is the gram. Other units of mass and their equivalents in grams are as follows: 1 nanogram (ng) = gram 1 microgram (ug or mcg) = gram 1 milligram (mg) = gram 1 centigram (cg) = 0.01 gram 1 decigram (dg) = 0.1 gram 1 dekagram (dag) = 10 grams 1 hektogram (hg) = 100 grams 1 kilogram = 1000 grams