Metric System & Conversions

METRIC TERM – ABBREVIATION – STANDARD SYSTEM COMPARISON Meter m Length Inch, foot, yard, mile Gram g Weight Ounce, pound Liter L* Volume Fluid ounce, cup, pint, quart, gallon *Capital L is commonly used to prevent confusion of lowercase I and the number 1.

TERM ABBREVIATION MEANING Kilo k 1000 units Hecto h 100 units Deci d 1/10 or 0.1 unit Centi c 1/100 or 0.01 unit Milli m 1/1000 or 0.001 unit

“More Than 1” Unit of Measure Weight: • 1 .0 hectogram = 100 grams • 1 .5 hectograms = 150 grams • 1.0 kilogram = 1000 grams • 1 .5 kilograms = 1500 grams Length: • 1 .0 hecto meter = 100 meters • 1.5 hectometers = 150 meters • 1.0 kilometer = 1000 meters • 1.5 kilometers = 1500 meters

“Less Than 1” Unit of Measure Length: • 1 decimeter (dm) = 1/10 or 0.1 of a meter • 1 centimeter (cm) = 1/100 or 0.01 of a meter • 1 millimeter (mm) = 1/1000 or 0.001 of a meter

Volume: • 1 deciliter (dL) = 1/10 or 0.1 of a liter • 1 milliliter (mL) = 1/1000 or 0.001 of a liter

Basic Rules for the Metric System 1. Numbers less than one unit are written in decimals. Examples: 0.1 0.01 0.001 2. If there is no number before the decimal point, always add a zero. Examples: .1 is 0.1 .5 is 0.5 .75 is 0.75 3. Abbreviations are always singular, never plural. Examples: Grams is abbreviated g, not gs. Liters is abbreviated L, not Ls. Liter is always shortened to capital L, not lowercase I. 4. Leave a space between the number and the abbreviation. Examples: 10 g not l0g. 1000 mL not l000mL.

The Metric Number Line: Another way to help you navigate inside The Metric Number Line: Another way to help you navigate inside the metric system. Kilo Hecto Deka * Deci Centi Milli 1000 100 10 1 0.1 .01 .001

To use the Metric Line: You will decide what unit you are changing FROM and what unit you are changing TO. Starting at the FROM unit, count over (keeping in mind- "left" or "right") to the TO unit.

EXAMPLE: 32 kilograms = ___________ grams **This will be the number of places you will move the decimal in your answer. EXAMPLE: 32 kilograms = ___________ grams (This means you want to change FROM kilograms TO grams.) Use the number line and count over, starting at Kilograms….move to grams. K H D (grams) D C M * -> 1 place- ->2 places- -> 3 places

Move the decimal 3 places to the "right“ Now we use the number of places you moved (3 places to the "right") to find the answer. Move the decimal 3 places to the "right“ using a zero to hold each of the places 32 kilograms = 32000 grams Don’t forget that every whole number has a decimal to it’s right, so in our example 32kg is the same as saying 32.0 kg (We don’t always write the decimal to the right of a number but it is understood that it is there.)

Standard and Metric Units of Length

Measuring Devices: Fluid Ounces and Cubic Centimeters Baby’s bottle Graduate Measuring cup

Converting Pounds and Kilograms Converting pounds to kilograms: Multiply weight in pounds by 0.45 Examples: 110 lb changed to kilograms: 110 x 0.45 = 49.5 kg 200 lb changed to kilograms: 200 x 0.45 =90 kg Converting kilograms to pounds: Multiply weight in kilograms by 2.2 Examples: 50 kg changed to pounds: 50 x 2.2 = 110 lb 90 kg changed to pounds: 90 x 2.2 = 198 lb

Converting Ounces to Metric Measurements •Converting ounces to cc/ml Multiply volume in ounces by 30 Examples: 1 oz medicine 1 × 30 = 30 ml = 30 cc 8 oz water 8 × 30 = 240 ml = 240 cc 6 oz soup 6 × 30 = 180 ml = 180 cc 4 oz juice 4 × 30 = 120 ml = 120 cc 12 oz soda pop 12 × 30 = 360 ml = 360 cc • Converting ounces to grams Multiply weight in ounces by 30 Examples: 1 oz changed to grams: 1 × 30 = 30 g 8 oz changed to grams: 8 × 30 = 240 g