1. Algebra: Change Linear Units Metric System
Mrs. Planavsky
4th grade

2. Why Learn This?
You’ll be able to change large units of measure to small units of measure to compare the lengths of two items.
Objective: To change linear units of measure by multiplying or dividing

3. A decimeter is a larger unit than a centimeter.
Think: 500 dm = ___ cm
A decimeter is a larger unit than a centimeter.
When you change larger units to smaller units, you need more of the smaller units, so multiply by 10, 100, or 1,000.

4. Length of the tunnel in decimeters
500
How many centimeters are in 1 decimeter? 10
So, 500 x 10 = 5,000 centimeters

5. When you change smaller units to larger units, you need fewer of the larger units, so divide by 10, 100, or 1,000.

6. Use this chart to help you:
x x x10
Meters
Decimeters
Centimeters
Millimeters
÷ ÷ ÷10

7. 300 millimeters = ___ centimeters
Since a millimeter is a smaller unit than a centimeter, divide.
300 ÷ 10 = 30
So, 300 mm = 30 cm

8. Write the correct unit.
20 dm = 200 __ cm

9. 7,000 mm = ___ meters
Since a millimeter is a smaller unit than a meter, divide.
You can divide 7,000 by 1,000 with a calculator.
So 7,000 millimeters = 7 meters

10. Write the correct unit.
40 cm = 400 __ mm

11. Write the correct unit.
6 __ = 60 dm m

12. Write the correct unit.
8 __ = 80 cm dm

13. Compare. Write <, >, or =.
8 m __ 400 cm
>

14. Compare. Write <, >, or =.
40 cm __ 10 dm
<

15. Compare. Write <, >, or =.
900 m __ 9 km
<

16. Order from least to greatest.
3 dm, 120 cm, 18 dm, 1 m
3 dm, 1 m, 120 cm, 18 dm

17. Order from least to greatest.
20 m, 2 km, 2,100 dm, 2,000 mm
2,000 mm, 20 m, 2,100 dm, 2 km