1. Metric System Notes and Practice

2. Metric system is based on the power of 10.
Meter is a measure of length
Gram is a measure of mass
Liter is a measure of liquid volume
Celsius is a measure of temperature

3. Prefixes Kilo (k) 1000 103 Hecto (h) 100 102 Deka (da) 10 101
Base Unit
meter(m) liter(L) gram(g)
Deci (d) /
Centi (c) /
Milli (m) /

4. Remember King kilo Henry hecto Died deca Unexpectedly base unit
Drinking deci
Chocolate centi
Milk milli

5. Some things to remember when converting units.
To convert from a larger to smaller metric unit you always multiply moving the decimal place to the right
To convert from a smaller to larger unit you always divide moving the decimal place to the left

6. For every step upward (or to the left) on the chart you are dividing by 10 or moving the decimal one place to the left..

7. Example: To convert 2 kilometers to meters
For every step downward on the chart you are multiplying by 10 or moving the decimal one place to the right..
Example:    To convert 2 kilometers to meters

8. you move 3 steps down on the chart so you move the decimal 3 places to the right 2 kilometers = 2000 meters

9. Example:    To convert 345 milligrams to grams

10. you move 3 steps up on the chart so you move the decimal 3 places to the left 345 mg = .345 g

11. Conversions between English and Metric System
2.2 pounds equals 1 kilogram
2.54 centimeters equals 1 inch
F = (C X 1.8) + 32
C = F – 32
        1.8

12. Practice Use a ruler to determine the following
1.)  How long is your pen/pencil?
2.)  What is the diameter of a penny?
3.)  What is the area on the top of your desk?
4.) What is the volume taken up by a die?
5.) What is your height in cm?
6.) What is the typical human body temperature in Celcius?