1. The Metric System

2. The Metric System
The Metric System is based on the number 10 making conversion easy. Each time you move the decimal left or right in the units, you will move the decimal point left or right one place in the number you are converting.

3. L
K H D M. D C M G
Distance :Kilometer, Hectometer, Decameter, Metric base (meter), Decimeter, Centimeter, Millimeter
Weight :Kilogram, Hectogram, Decagram, Metric base (gram), Decigram, Centigram, Milligram
Liquid :Kiloliter, Hectoliter, Deciliter, Metric base (liter), Deciliter, Centiliter, Milliliter

4. King Henry Died Monday Drinking Chocolate Milk

5. K H D M. D C M 1
.001
1m.=________km.

6. K H D M. D C M 1
100
1hm.=________m..

7. K H D M. D C M 81
.81
81cm.=________m..

8. G
K H D M. D C M
1.2
0000
1.2 kg =_______cg.
120000

9. Distance or Length Comparisons
A millimeter (mm) is about the thickness of a dime.

10. Liquid Capacity Comparisons
A centimeter (cm) is about the width of a thumbnail.

11. Distance or Length Comparisons
A meter (m) is about the same size as a yard stick or 3 feet.
A kilometer (km) is a little more than one half a mile.

12. Liquid Capacity Comparisons
A milliliter (mL) is about 5 drops of water.

13. Liquid Capacity Comparisons
A liter is a little more than a quart of milk or half of a two liter bottle of soda.

14. Weight/Mass Comparisons
A milligram (mg) is about the mass of a speck of sawdust.

15. Weight/Mass Comparisons
A gram is about the mass of a paper clip.

16. Weight/Mass Comparisons
A kilogram (kg) is about half the weight of your math book.

17. The Metric System

18. Metric Conversions Ladder Method

19. How many jumps does it take?
Ladder Method 1 2 3
KILO 1000 Units
HECTO 100 Units
DEKA 10 Units
DECI 0.1 Unit
Meters Liters Grams
CENTI 0.01 Unit
MILLI Unit
How do you use the “ladder” method?
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.
4 km = _________ m
Starting Point
Ending Point
How many jumps does it take?
= 4000 m 4. 1
__. 2
__. 3
__.

20. Conversion Practice Try these conversions using the ladder method.
1000 mg = _______ g 1 L = _______ mL 160 cm = _______ mm
14 km = _______ m 109 g = _______ kg 250 m = _______ km
Compare using <, >, or =.
56 cm m 7 g mg

21. 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 14) 5 L = _______ mL
11) 104 km = _______ m 15) 198 g = _______ kg
12) 2500 m = _______ km ) 16 cm = _______ mm
13) 480 cm = _____ m 17) 75 mL = _____ L

22. Compare using <, >, or =.
25) 63 cm m 27) 5 g mg
26) 536 cm dm 28) 43 mg g
29) 1,500 mL L 30) 3.6 m cm