Pre-Algebra 2 Lesson A.1a Presented to my 1 st period class October 13, 2015

THE METRIC SYSTEM October 13, 2015October 13, 2015October 13, 2015

WHY DO WE USE THE METRIC SYSTEM? Almost all other countries are using the metric system Other countries’ companies are refusing to buy products from the U.S. if not labeled in metric units Scientists need a universal way to communicate data

WHAT DOES THE METRIC SYSTEM MEASURE? The gram measures mass or how much something weighs The liter measures volume which is used when measuring liquids The meter measures the length of an object or the distance from place to place

Metric System The metric system is based on a base unit that corresponds to a certain kind of measurement Length = meter Volume = liter Weight (Mass) = gram Prefixes plus base units make up the metric system –Example: Centi + meter = Centimeter Kilo + liter = Kiloliter

Metric System The three prefixes that are used the most are: –kilo –centi –milli kilo hectodeca Base Units meter gram liter deci centimilli

Metric System These prefixes are based on powers of 10. What does this mean? –From each prefix every “step” is either: 10 times larger or 10 times smaller –For example Centimeters are 10 times larger than millimeters 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters kilo hectodeca Base Units meter gram liter deci centimilli

Metric System –Centimeters are 10 times larger than millimeters so it takes more millimeters for the same length 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters Example not to scale 1 mm 1 cm

THE METRIC CONVERSION CHART (STAIRCASE METHOD) Kilo 1000 units Hecto 100 units Deka 10 units Basic Unit Deci 0.1 units Centi 0.01 units Milli units To convert to a smaller unit, move decimal point to the right or multiply. To convert to a larger unit, move decimal point to the left or divide King Henry Danced Back Down Chocolate Mountain

TRY THIS USING THE STAIRCASE METHOD 1000 mg = ______ g Step 1: Determine if you are going to go up or down the ladder. Step 2: Determine how many steps there are from milligrams to grams. Step 3: Move the decimal point the amount of places that was determined in steps 1 & 2.

TRY THIS USING THE STAIRCASE METHOD 1000 mg = ______ g Step 1: Determine if you are going to go up or down the ladder. Step 2: Determine how many steps there are from milligrams to grams. Step 3: Move the decimal point the amount of places that was determined in steps 1 & 2. 1

TRY THIS USING THE STAIRCASE METHOD.15 L = __________ ml

TRY THIS USING THE STAIRCASE METHOD.15 L = __________ ml 150