1. Tips to help you solve length, volume, and mass problems
Metric System
Tips to help you solve length, volume, and mass problems

2. What is length? Measurement of distance
+It can be length, width, height, depth…
In the metric system length is measured using meters.
(millimeters, centimeters, decimeters, decameters, hectometers, and kilometers)

3. What is mass? Measure of matter (How much stuff?)
In the metric system mass is measured using grams.
(milligram, centigram, decigram, decagram, hectogram, and kilogram)

4. What is volume? Measurement of space 2 ways to find volume:
a. Displacement method
b. V= l X w X h
In the metric system volume is measured in liters.
(milliliter, centiliter, deciliter, decaliter, hectoliter, kiloliter)

5. Metric Staircase
kilo
hecto
deca
meter, gram, Liter
deci
centi
milli

6. Steps to use to solve a metric problem
These six simple steps are used to solve any metric conversion problem that involves mass, length, or volume.
You do the SAME THING for a volume problem that you do for a length problem!
Here we go…get ready to write.

7. Step One Find the decimal point in the problem
Example: g (The decimal is between the seven and the five.)
Example 2: 9,999 mL (I don’t see the decimal point. So, if you can’t see the decimal point it is at the END of the number. 9,999. )

8. Step Two Find what step you are on the metric staircase
Look at the label on your number
Example: 0.1 kg (kg = kilograms so I am on the kilo step)
Example2: 5,200 mm (mm=millimeters so I am on the milli step)

9. Count how many steps you will move on the metric staircase
Step Three
Count how many steps you will move on the metric staircase
Example: 25 daL = ____L (You need to count how many steps it is from daL to L.)
It is one step from da to L.
Example 2: hm = _____cm
(It is 4 steps from hecto to centi.)

10. Are you moving up or down the staircase?
Step Four
Are you moving up or down the staircase?
Example: 50 L = ___dL
(You are at L and are going to dL, deci is down the stairs from Liter.)
Example 2: 75,000 cm = ____m
(You are at cm and are going to m, meters is up the stairs from centi.)

11. Step Five
If you are moving up the stairs then you will move the decimal left.
If you are moving down the stairs then you will move the decimal right.
Example: 1 kL = ____L (Kilo to Liter is a move down the stairs so the decimal moves right.)
Example 2: dg = ____dag
(Deci to deca is a move up the stairs so the decimal moves left.)

12. Move the decimal and label your new answer
Step Six
Move the decimal and label your new answer
You move the decimal point the number of spaces you stepped on the stairs.
You move the decimal point right if you went down the stairs and you move the decimal left if you went up the stairs