1. How to do Metric Conversions
Metric Stairs
How to do Metric Conversions

2. Metric System System of measurement.
Designed to be easy to use and universal. (built on powers of ten)
Correct name is the “International System of Units”( or SI for short).

3. Built on a Root
Each property of matter has a root word that is the base measurement for that property.
For example:
Grams (g) are for mass
Liters (L) are for volume
Meters (m) are for distance

4. Add a Prefix
To change the value of the root (make it bigger or smaller), you add a prefix
Smaller
Milli (m) – 1/1000 of the root (1000 times smaller)
Centi (c) – 1/100 of the root (100 times smaller)
Deci (d) – 1/10 of the root (10 times smaller)
Bigger
Deka (dk) – 10 times bigger than root
Hecto (h) – 100 times bigger than root
Kilo (k) – 1000 times bigger than root.

5. Easy Conversions
You can use this simple drawing to convert any metric measurement to another metric measurement.
The stairs have 7 steps going down left to right
kilo-
hecto-
deka-
root
deci-
centi-
milli-

6. How does it work?
First, identify the prefixes you are being asked to convert between.
Example: “Convert cm into hectometers”
cm is centimeters and change is to hectometers.
kilo-
hecto-
deka-
root
deci-
centi-
milli-

7. How does it Work? Next draw out the stairs.
Third, put a mark on the starting prefix (centi in our example problem)
kilo-
hecto-
deka-
root
deci-
centi-
milli-

8. How does it Work?
Fourth, “walk” up/down the stairs to the prefix you are converting to (hecto in our example)
Count the number of steps you traveled and note direction as either left or right. 4
Left
kilo- 3
hecto- 2
deka- 1
root
deci-
centi-
milli-

9. How Does it Work
Now go to the original number (2.345) and move the decimal point the same direction and number of “steps” as you did on the stairs.
Fill in empty spaces with zeroes
Add new prefix
2.345 hm
4 spaces left

10. Practice Convert 4.3 km to meters Convert 462 cg to hg
Convert 1 mL to kL