1. Metric Conversions Ladder Method
T. Trimpe

2. Countries That Do Not Use the Metric System
Burma/Myanmar
Liberia

3. The Magic of the Metric System: 10x!k
kilo-
1000x
smaller
Big -> Small
100x
BASE UNIT
10x
meter(m)
gram(g)
liter(L)
Distance/length
Mass
1/10x
0.1x
Volume c
centi-
0.01x
‘CKats’ hate dogs because dogs can’t meow
bigger m
milli-
0.001x

4. kilo-
1.0
# of stair steps =
# of decimal places
milli-
1. You have 0.33 kilograms of laundry soap; how many grams?
2. Your water bottle is labeled 500mL; how many liters does it hold?
5 0 0
0.3 3 . L g

5. Measuring Length (m) Measuring Mass (g)
How many millimeters in 1 centimeter?
How long is the line in cm? in mm? cm
Measuring Mass (g)
Use ‘tare’ or zero button to ignore the mass of the container
Please be careful with the scales!

6. Measuring Volume mL of a rock!? 1mL =1cm3 = 1cc • Liquids, use L
At eye level, read at the bottom of the meniscus
• Geometric solids use m3
l x w x h
• Irregular solids use
water displacement
Volume of object
mL of a rock!?
1mL =1cm3 = 1cc

7. Measuring Volume What is the volume of water in the cylinder?
What is the volume of the toy?
Recall:
1mL = 1 cm3 (1cc)

8. Practice Convert one value, using the ladder method, then compare
1) 200cg to g 6) 5 L to mL 11) 16 cm to mm
2) 104 km to m 7) 198 g to kg 12) 2500 m to km
3) 480 cm to m 8) 75 mL to L 13) 65 g to mg
4) 5.6 kg to g 9) 50 cm to m 14) 6.3 cm to mm
Compare using <, >, or =.
25) 63 cm m 27) 5 g mg 29) 1,500 mL L
26) 536 cm dm 28) 43 mg g 30) 3.6 m cm

10. Wait! I measure distance in
MILES!

11. U.S. vs. Metric : Length Which is longer? A. 1 mile or 1 kilometer
B. 1 yard or 1 meter
C. 1 inch or 1 centimeter
1.6 kilometers
1 mile
1 yard = meters
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters

12. U.S. v. Metric: Mass Which is larger? 1. 1 Pound or 100 Grams
2. 1 Kilogram or 1 Pound
3. 1 Ounce or 1000 Milligrams
1 pound = g
100 kg = 220 pounds
1 ounce of gold = g

13. U.S. v. Metric: Volume Which is larger? A. 1 liter or 1 gallon
B. 1 liter or 1 quart
C. 1 milliliter or 1 fluid ounce
1 fl oz = 29.53mL
1 12-oz can of soda ~ 355 mL
1 quart = liters
1 gallon = 3.79L

14. Converting One Unit to Another
• What value & units are you given to convert?
Determine these three facts:
Your friend runs a 2.5mi route while you typically run a 5km one.
Which of you ran the longer distance?
• What conversions factor(s) can be used to ‘bridge’ the two?
• What unit do you need to convert to?
1mi =1.6km
Dimensional analysis
2.5mi km x mi
= 4km
you rule!
Converting One Unit to Another

15. 2.5mi 1.6km ------- x -------- 1 1 mi
Conversion factor
Set up answer units in the numerator of one fraction
Use a conversion factor with the same units in the denominator as the given units
2.5mi km x mi
Cancel like terms (units)
Multiply across; divide final fraction
2.5 (3.2km)
= finish it!
1 (2)
Go Hog Wild!
20oz
------ 1
28.35g x
1 oz
1 kg
x =
1000g
You feel guilty ordering a 20 ounce steak – think about it in kg instead

16. Digits plus the power of 10
100 can be restated as 10 x 10
700 is a number
700 can be restated as 7.0 x 100
(700.0 is the same number)
Thus, 700 is the same as 7.0 x 102
10 x 10 can be stated as 10 2
Ex: Windsor to Disneyland is 745km, or 7.45 x 102
The moon is more than 384 thousand km from earth.
Scientific Notation
Digits plus the power of 10