1. Metric System based on a base unit that corresponds to a certain kind of measurement Length = meter Volume = liter Mass = gram Density = grams per cm³ or g/cm³ Prefixes + base units make up the metric system –Example: Centi + meter = Centimeter Kilo + liter = Kiloliter

2. Kk K ing k ilo = km Hh H enry h ecto = h Dd D ied d eca = da UUNIT (BASE) U nexpectedly UNIT (BASE) Dd D rinking d eci = d Cc C hocolate c enti = cm Mm M ilk m illi, = mm PNEUMONIC for prefixes

3. PREFIXES are based on powers of 10. What? –each prefix is a step either: 10 times larger to the left or 10 times smaller to the right –examples Centimeters are 10 times larger than millimeters (1 step) 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters Hectometers are 10 times smaller than kilometers (1 step) 10 hectometers = 1 kilometer Kilo 1000 Hecto 100 Deca 10 meter liter gram g/cm³ Deci 1/10 Centi 1/100 Milli 1/1000

4. The three prefixes that we will use the most are: –kilo –centi –milli kilo hectodeca Base Units meter gram liter deci centimilli

5. each “step” to right, you MULTIPLY by 10 Each “step” to the left, you DIVIDE by 10 Ex.- Right direction to go from a base unit to centi 1 liter = 10 deciliters = 100 centiliters ( 1 x 10 = 10 ) = ( 10 x 10 = 100 ) - Left direction to go from base to kilo 1000 meters = 100 hectometers = 10 decameters = 1 kilometer ( 1000 / 10 = 100 ) = ( 100 / 10 = 10 ) = ( 10 /10= 1 ) kilo hectodeca meter liter gram g/cm³ =1 deci centimilli

6. Movement within the metric system is done by moving the DECIMAL POINT one place for each “step” desired Example to right: move to right to change from meters to millimeters 1.0 meter = 1000.0 millimeters Example to left: move to Left to change from liters to kiloliters 1.0 meters =.001 kilometers kilo hectodeca meter liter gram g/cm³ deci centimilli

7. If you move to the right in the diagram, move the decimal to the right, no matter where you are on the scale Convert meters to centimeters 5.0 meters = 500 centimeters kilo hectodeca meter liter gram g/cm³ deci centimilli kilo hectodeca meter liter gram g/cm³ deci centimilli Convert kilometers to meters.3 kilometers = 300 meters

8. If you move to the left in the diagram, move the decimal to the left, no matter where you are on the scale Convert from meters to kilometers 4000.0 meters = 4.0 kilometers kilo hectodeca meter liter gram g/cm³ deci centimilli kilo hectodeca meter liter gram g/cm³ deci centimilli Convert centimeters to meters 400.0 centimeters = 4.0 meters

9. Metric System Summary –Base units in the metric system are meter, liter, gram –Metric system is based on powers of 10 –For conversions within the metric system, each “step” is 1 decimal place to the right or left –Using the diagram below, converting to the right, moves the decimal to the right and converting to the left moves the decimal to the left