Understanding Metric Conversions Metric Prefixes

Prefixes Larger Than Base kilo hecto deca

Prefixes Smaller Than Base deci centi milli

kilo The prefix kilo means 1000 A kilo is one thousand times bigger than the base unit Therefore, a kilogram is 1000 grams, a kilolitre is 1000 litres and a kilometre is 1000 metres

hecto The prefix hecto means 100 A hecto is one hundred times bigger than the base unit Therefore, a hectometre is 100 metres

deca The prefix deca means 10 A deca is ten times bigger than the base unit Therefore a decagram is 10 grams

deci The prefix deci means tenth A deci is 10 times smaller that the base unit Therefore, a decimetre is one-tenth of a metre or you need 10 decimetres to make a metre

centi The prefix centi means one-hundredth A centi is 100 times smaller than the base Therefore, a centimetre is one-hundredth of a metre or you need 100 centimetres to make a metre

milli The prefix milli means one-thousandth A milli is 1000 times smaller than the base unit Therefore, a milligram is one-thousandth of a gram or you need 1000 milligrams to make a gram

Making Metric Conversions Notice the unit the measure is in Notice the unit you want to change to How many movement do you need to make and in what direction Move you decimal the necessary movements Rewrite measure indicating the new unit

Understanding Metric Conversions Metric Prefixes kilo hecto deca metre litre gram deci centi milli 1000 times bigger than the base 100 times bigger 10 bigger than base unit one tenth of the base unit or ten times smaller one hundredth of the base unit one hundred times smaller one thousandth of the base unit or one thousand times smaller 1000 1 0.1 0.01 0.001

Understanding Metric Conversions Metric Prefixes kilo hecto deca metre litre gram deci centi milli 3.9 m = _____ cm 3.9 m = 390 cm

Understanding Metric Conversions Metric Prefixes kilo hecto deca metre litre gram deci centi milli 120 mm = _____ cm 120 mm = 12 cm

Understanding Metric Conversions Metric Prefixes kilo hecto deca metre litre gram deci centi milli 347 mL = _____ L 347 mL = .347 L

Understanding Metric Conversions Metric Prefixes kilo hecto deca metre litre gram deci centi milli 0.5 kg = ____ g 0.5 kg = 500 g

Understanding Metric Conversions Metric Prefixes kilo hecto deca metre litre gram deci centi milli 68.4 dg = _____ mg 68.4 dg = 6840 mg

Understanding Metric Conversions Metric Prefixes kilo hecto deca metre litre gram deci centi milli 73 hm = ____ km 73 hm = 7.3 km

Understanding Metric Conversions Metric Prefixes kilo hecto deca metre litre gram deci centi milli .548 daL = ____ mL .548 daL = 5480 mL

Understanding Metric Conversions Metric Prefixes kilo hecto deca metre litre gram deci centi milli 456.2 cm = ___ dm 456.2 cm = 45.62 dm