1. Metric Conversions Ladder Method

2. How many jumps does it take?
Ladder Method 1 2 3
KILO 1000 Units
HECTO 100 Units
DEKA 10 Units
DECI 0.1 Unit
Metres Litres grams
CENTI 0.01 Unit
MILLI Unit
How do you use the “ladder” method?
1st – Determine your starting point.
2nd – Count the “jumps” to your ending point.
3rd – Move the decimal the same number of jumps in the same direction.
4 km = _________ m
Starting Point
Ending Point
How many jumps does it take? 4. 1
__. 2
__. 3
__.
= 4000 m

3. Conversion Practice Try these conversions using the ladder method.
1000 mg = _______ g 1 L = _______ mL 160 cm = _______ mm
14 km = _______ m 109 g = _______ kg 250 m = _______ km
Compare using <, >, or =.
56 cm m 7 g mg

4. Metric Conversion Challenge
Try these conversions, using the ladder method.
1) 2000 mg = _______ g 2) 5 L = _______ mL 3) 16 cm = _______ mm
4) 104 km = _______ m 5) 198 g = _______ kg 6) 2500 m = _______ km
7) 480 cm = _____ m 8) 75 mL = _____ L 9) 65 g = _____ mg
10) 5.6 kg = _____ g 11) 50 cm = _____ m 12) 6.3 cm = _____ mm
13) 8 mm = _____ cm 14) 5.6 m = _____ cm 15) 120 mg = _____ g
Compare using <, >, or =.
15) 63 cm m 17) 5 g mg 18) 1,500 mL L
19) 536 cm dm 20) 43 mg g 21) 3.6 m cm