1. The METRIC SYSTEM & CONVERSIONS

2. The Metric System
The metric system is an internationally standardized system of units of measurement.
The metric system is based on a base unit and prefixes.

3. Prefixes Kilo - 1000 k Hecto - 100 h Deca - 10 da 1 Deci - 0.1 d
Centi c
Milli m

4. Length The basic unit of length in the metric system is the meter (m)
Metric Units of Length
Kilometer (km) = 1000 m
Hectometer (hm) = 100 m
Decameter (dam) = 10 m
Meter (m) = 1 m
Decimeter (dm) = 0.1 m
Centimeter (cm) = 0.01 m
Millimeter (mm) = m

5. Do you think the same rules apply to metric? Why?
When working with customary units of measurement, to change from larger to smaller units you multiplied. To change from smaller units to larger units, you divided.
Do you think the same rules apply to metric?
Why?

6. Length The basic unit of length in the metric system is the meter (m)
Metric Units of Length
Kilometer (km) = 1000 m
Hectometer (hm) = 100 m
Decameter (dam) = 10 m
Meter (m) = 1 m
Decimeter (dm) = 0.1 m
Centimeter (cm) = 0.01 m
Millimeter (mm) = m

7. Capacity Liquid substances are measured in units of capacity.
The basic unit of mass in the metric system is a liter (L)
1 L = capacity of a cube that measures 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm
Metric Units of Capacity
Kiloliter (kL) = 1000 L
Hectoliter (hL) = 100 L
Decaliter (daL) = 10 L
Liter (L) = 1 L
Deciliter (dL) = 0.1 L
Centiliter (cL) = 0.01 L
Milliliter (mL) = L

8. Mass
Weight is a measure of how strongly gravity is pulling on an object (decreases as elevation increases)
Mass is the amount of material in an object (doesn’t change)
Note: on Earth, weight and mass are used interchangeably

9. Mass The basic unit of mass in the metric system is a gram (g)
1 g = mass of water in a cube that measures 1 cm x 1 cm x 1cm
Metric Units of Mass
Kilogram (kg) = 1000 g
Hectogram (hg) = 100 g
Decagram (dag) = 10 g
Gram (g) = 1 g
Decigram (dg) = 0.1 g
Centigram (cg) = 0.01 g
Milligram (mg) = g

10. Conversions within the Metric System
To convert units within the metric system, write the prefixes in order from largest to smallest
k h da d c m
To convert from a smaller unit to a larger unit, move to the left
To convert from a larger unit to a smaller unit, move to the right

11. Ex: Convert 1600 cm to m km hm dam m dm cm mm
Move 2 places to the left to get from cm to m
Therefore, move the decimal point in 1600 two places to the left to convert from cm to m
1600 cm = m

12. Ex: Convert 2 kL to L kL hL daL L dL cL mL
Move 3 places to the right to get from kL to L
Therefore, move the decimal point in 2 three places to the right to convert from kL to L
2 KL = 2000 L

13. Ex: Convert 241 g to mg kg hg dag g dg cg mg
Move 3 places to the right to get from g to mg
Therefore, move the decimal point in 241 three places to the right to convert from g to mg
241 g = 241,000 mg

14. Ex: Convert 3 mL to L kL hL daL L dL cL mL
Move 3 places to the left to get from mL to L
Therefore, move the decimal point in 3 three places to the left to convert from mL to L
3 mL = L

15. Ex: Convert 45 cm to km km hm dam m dm cm mm
Move 5 places to the left to get from cm to km
Therefore, move the decimal point in 45 five places to the left to convert from cm to km
45 cm = km

16. Ex: Convert 5.4 kg to dg kg hg dag g dg cg mg
Move 4 places to the right to get from kg to dg
Therefore, move the decimal point in 5.4 four places to the right to convert from kg to dg
5.4 kg = dg