The Metric SystemThe system of measurement utilized by the International System of Units or the Système International d'Unités (SI). This system was established to provide consistency related to weights and measures and is the primary system of measurement used around the world (however, not in the United States). Each measurement within this system consists of a base unit (liter, meter, gram, etc.) usually attached to a prefix (kilo, hecto, deca, deci, centi, milli, etc.). One can easily navigate, or convert, within the metric system by multiplying or dividing by a power of 10. In other words, by simply moving the decimal point to the right or the left, it is possible to convert from one unit of measure to another within this system.

Example

5 kilometers = 5,000 meters = 5,000,000 millimeters

Each of these conversions were made by simply moving the decimal point to the right or the left

Prefixes

Symbol Prefix Numerical Expression Factor

T tera- 1 000 000 000 0001012

G giga- 1 000 000 000 109

M mega- 1 000 000106

k kilo- 1 000 103

h hecto- 100 102

da dek(c)a 10 101

NO PREFIX (UNIT) 1 100

d deci- 0.1 10-1

c centi- 0.01 10-2

m milli- 0.001 10-3

μ micro- 0.00000110-6

n nano- 0.000000001 10-9

The chart below provides a list of some commonly used prefixes

Units

The chart below provides a list of some commonly used units

Units Symbol Used to Measure:

liter L volumemeter m distance/lengthgram g mass (weight)Joule J energysecond s timePascal Pa pressure

Combining Prefixes and Units

milligram (mg)

milli gram

Prefixestera (T)giga (G)

mega (M)kilo (k)

hecto (h)dek(c)a

(da)deci (d)centi (c)milli (m)micro (µ)nano (n)

Unitsliter (L)

meter (m)gram (g)Joule (J)

second (s)Pascal (Pa)

*The lists of prefixes & units are not all-inclusive

+ =

kilo + liter =

kiloliter (kL)

centi+meter=

centimeter (cm)

Values in the metric system must contain a unit and the units are typically preceded by a prefix

kilo hecto

deka

UNITS

Gram

Liter

Meter

UNITS

deci centi

milli

Metric Map“Use it to help guide you through the metric

system”

How To Use Your Map

1) Identify your starting point - this is the number followed by a prefix/unit.2) Identify your final destination – this is the prefix/unit you want in the end.3) Count the number of steps/places from the starting point to the final destination.4) Move the decimal point the number of steps between the two locations, in the

same direction.

*This map does not show all prefixes and units

Practice Problems1. How many milligrams are in 3.6 kilograms?

2. Convert 15 liters to centiliters

3. How many hm are in 12.67 mm?

4. Convert 128,650 mL to daL

5. Jason ran 1.61 km. How many meters did he run?

0

kilo hecto

deka Gram deci centi

milli

Practice Problem 1How many milligrams are in 3.6 kilograms?

Starting point Final Destination

3 6kg00000 mg3,600,000 mg•Direction:•Steps:

6

kilo hecto

deka Liter deci centi

milli

Practice Problem 2Convert 15 liters to centiliters

Starting point Final Destination

1 5 0

L00cL1,500 cL

•Direction:•Steps:

2

kilo hecto

deka Meter deci centi

milli

Practice Problem 3How many hm are in 12.67 mm?

Starting pointFinal Destination

1 2 67

mm0000 hm0.0001267 hm•Direction:•Steps:

5

kilo hecto

deka Liter deci centi

milli

Practice Problem 4Convert 128,650 mL to daL

Starting pointFinal Destination

1 2 8 6 5 0 0

mLdaL12.865 daL•Direction:•Steps:

4

m

kilo hecto

deka Meter deci centi

milli

Practice Problem 5Jason ran 1.61 km. How many meters did he run?

Starting point Final Destination

1 6 1

km001,610 m•Direction:•Steps:

3

A way to remember

Thiswill be important because you will not receive

the metric map on your quiz.

King Henry Died XXX! drinking

chocolate

milk