The Metric System

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.

K H D M. D C M

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

L

G

King Henry Died Monday Drinking Chocolate Milk

K H D M. D C M

1m.=________km.

100

.001

K H D M. D C M

1hm.=________m..

1 0 0

100

K H D M. D C M

81cm.=________m..

81

.81

K H D M. D C M

1.2 kg =_______cg.

1.20000

120000

G

Distance or Length Comparisons

• A millimeter (mm) is about the thickness of a dime.

Liquid Capacity Comparisons

• A centimeter (cm) is about the width of a thumbnail.

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.

Liquid Capacity Comparisons

• A milliliter (mL) is about 5 drops of water.

Liquid Capacity Comparisons

• A liter is a little more than a quart of milk or half of a two liter bottle of soda.

Weight/Mass Comparisons

• A milligram (mg) is about the mass of a speck of sawdust.

Weight/Mass Comparisons

• A gram is about the mass of a paper clip.

Weight/Mass Comparisons

• A kilogram (kg) is about half the weight of your math book.

The Metric System

Metric Conversions Ladder Method

KILO1000Units

HECTO100

Units

DEKA10

Units DECI0.1

Unit

CENTI0.01Unit

MILLI0.001Unit

MetersLitersGrams

Ladder Method

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

12

3

How many jumps does it take?

Starting Point

Ending Point

4.1

__

.2

__

.3__

.= 4000 m

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

Conversion Practice

Compare using <, >, or =.

56 cm 6 m 7 g 698 mg

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) 16 cm = _______ mm

13) 480 cm = _____ m 17) 75 mL = _____ L

Metric Conversion Challenge

Compare using <, >, or =.

25) 63 cm 6 m 27) 5 g 508 mg

26) 536 cm 53.6 dm 28) 43 mg 5 g

29) 1,500 mL 1.5 L 30) 3.6 m 36 cm