1. T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net/
Metric Conversions
T. Trimpe

2. What are Metric Conversions?
Sometimes we need to change from one measurement to another.
This is usually done because the unit that is used is either too big or too small for that type of measurement.

3. Sometimes the number is too big for the unit being measured.
525,568 millimeters
Sometimes the number is too big for the unit being measured.

4. Sometimes the number is too small for the unit being measuredkm
Sometimes the number is too small for the unit being measured

5. How many jumps does it take?
Giga
unit
Mega
unit
kilo
1000 unit
Hecto
100 unit
Deka
10 unit
Basic
1 unit
Deci
0,1 unit
Centi
0,01 unit
Milli
0,001 unit
Micro
0, unit
Nano
0, unit 3 3
How do you convert a unit
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. 1 1
Meters Liters Grams 1
4 km = _________ m
Starting Point
Ending Point
How many jumps does it take? 4. 1
__. 2
__. 3
__.
= 4000 m 3 3

6. Conversion Practice Try these conversions
1000 mg = _______ g 1 L = _______ mL 160 cm = _______ mm
14 km = _______ m 109 g = _______ kg 250 m = _______ km
0,001
1000
1600
14.000
0,109
0,25
Compare using <, >, or =.
56 cm m 7 g mg
<
<

7. Multiply Divide 0.004 3 4 Km 40 Hm 3 400 Dm 4000 m 0,00025 0,0025
Giga
Mega (3)
0.004
kilo
1000 u
4 Km
Hecto
100 u
40 Hm
Deka
10 u
400 Dm
Basic
1 u
4000 m
deci
0,1 u
0,00025
centi
0,01 u
0,0025
milli
0,001 u
0.025
micro
0, u 25
nano
0, u 3
Multiply 3
Divide 3 3

8. 42 100000 42. 0.00042 dm 42 μm = dm Multiply Divide 5 Number of 5
jumps 5
Divide dm

9. 50 X 100000000 50. 5000 000 000 Dg 50 Gg = Dg Multiply Divide
Number of
jumps
50.
Divide 8 8 Dg

10. Metric Conversion Challenge
Write the correct abbreviation for each metric unit.
1) Kilogram _____ 4) Milliliter _____ 7) Kilometer _____
2) Meter _____ 5) Millimeter _____ 8) Centimeter _____
3) Gram _____ 6) Liter _____ 9) Milligram _____
Try these conversions, using the ladder method.
10) 2000 mg = _______ g 15) 5 L = _______ mL 20) 16 cm = _______ mm
11) 104 km = _______ m 16) 198 g = _______ kg 21) 2500 m = _______ km
12) 480 cm = _____ m 17) 75 mL = _____ L 22) 65 g = _____ mg
13) 5.6 kg = _____ g 18) 50 cm = _____ m 23) 6.3 cm = _____ mm
14) 8 mm = _____ cm 19) 5.6 m = _____ cm 24) 120 mg = _____ g 2
160
5000
104000
0,198
2,5
4,80
0,075
65000
0,50
630
56000
0,008
560
0,12