1. Converting with Different Units Metric System Or Standard International (S.I.) English System M.K.S.C.G.S.ENGLISH LENGTH MASS TIME meters seconds kilogramsgramsslugs feet centimeters seconds Fundamental Units for Metric System

2. Metric Prefixes to Know PrefixSymbol Example (meter) Order of Magnitude Number Kilo- k km 10 3 1000 Hecto- h hm 10 2 100 Deca- da dam 10 1 10 Base Unit (no prefix) None m 10 0 1 Deci- d dm 10 -1 0.1 Centi- c cm 10 -2 0.01 Milli- m mm 10 -3 0.001

3. Other Interesting Metric Prefixes PrefixSymbol Example (meter) Order of Magnitude Number Terra- T Tm 10 12 1,000,000,000,000 Giga- G Gm 10 9 1,000,000,000 Mega- M Mm 10 6 1,000,000 Micro- μ μm 10 -6 0.000001 Nano- n nm 10 -9 0.000000001 pico- p pm 10 -12 0.0000000000001

4. Converting in the Metric System Divide by ten for each step of the staircase you move up Multiply by ten for each step of the staircase you move down

5. A unit equation is a simple statement of two equivalent quantities. A conversion factor takes the unit equation and converts it into a ratio. For each unit equation, you can write two conversion factors! For the unit equation 1 hour = 60 minutes, we can write two unit factors: 1 hour OR 60 minutes 60 minutes 1 hour Numerator Denominator Conversion Factors

6. Useful Conversion ‘Factors’ Length: 1 m = 100 cm 1 m = 1000 mm 1 km = 1000 m 1 m = 3.28 ft 1 mile = 1.61 km 1 mile = 5280 ft 1 inch = 2.54 cm

7. Time: 1 year = 365 days 1 day = 24 hrs 1 hr = 60 min 1 L = 1000 mL 1 cm 3 = 1 mL 1 min = 60 s 1 hr = 3600 s Volume: 1 gallon = 3.79 L

8. Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKCZn5MLKvk for a demonstration of how conversions are done. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKCZn5MLKvk

9. Step 1: Write down the given value and units (What you have) Step 2: Write down the unit asked for in the answer (What you want) Step 3: Determine which conversion factor(s) is needed to convert the unit in the given value to the unit in the answer. Step 5: Write out the conversion factor(s) cancelling units top to bottom Step 6: Multiply the numbers across the top, write down the result. Step 7: Multiply the numbers across the bottom, write down the result. Step 8: Divide the top by the bottom  this is your answer Converting Outside of the Metric System