1. Metric Conversions Ladder Method
T. Trimpe

2. What do we measure and what do we measure it in?
International System of Units (SI)
System used by all scientists around the world to share
precise data in a format that is understood by all
What do we measure and what do we measure it in?
Length – measured in meters (m)
Volume (how much space something takes up) – measured in -
Liters (if liquid) (L)
Cubic meter units (if solid) m3

3. H DA D C M Scale based on units of 10K
1000 H
100 DA 10
10 times smaller each step D
0.1 C
0.01 M
0.001
10 times larger each step
King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk

4. How many jumps does it take?
Ladder Method- Length 1 2 3
KILO 1000 Units
HECTO 100 Units
DEKA 10 Units
10 times smaller each step km
DECI 0.1 Unit hm m
CENTI 0.01 Unit
dam
MILLI Unit dm cm
10 times larger each step mm
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? 4. 1
__. 2
__. 3
__.
= 4000 m

5. Ladder Method- Length KILO 1000 Units HECTO 100 Units DEKA 10 Units
10 times smaller each step km
DECI 0.1 Unit hm m
CENTI 0.01 Unit
dam
MILLI Unit dm cm
10 times larger each step mm
700,000
0.04 hm = _________ cm
400
70 km = _________ dm
0.5004
0.720
5004 cm = _________ hm
720 mm = _________ m

6. Conversion Practice k h da m L d c m
Try these conversions using the ladder method.
1000 km = _______ m 1 L = _______ mL 160 dam = _______ mm
14 km = _______ cm 109 cm = _______ mm 250 L = _______ ml
1,000,000
1,000
1,600,000
1,400,000
1,090
250,000

7. K H D B D C M Compare using <, >, or =. 56 cm 6 m 7 L 698 ml
Metric Rap

8. Metric Conversion Challenge
Write the correct abbreviation for each metric unit.
1) Hectometer ____ 4) milliliter _____ 7) kilometer _____
2) meter _____ 5) millimeter _____ 8) centimeter _____
3) deciliter _____ 6) liter _____ 9) dekameter _____
Try these conversions, using the ladder method.
10) 2000 ml = _______ L 15) 5 L = _______ mL 20) 16 cm = _______ mm
11) 104 km = _______ m 16) 198 m = _______ mm 21) 2500 m = _______ km
12) 480 cm = _____ m 17) 75 mL = _____ L 22) 65 m = _____ mm
13) 5.6 km = _____ m 18) 50 cm = _____ m 23) 6.3 cm = _____ dam
14) 8 mm = _____ dm 19) 5.6 m = _____ cm 24) 120 ml = _____ L

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