The Metric System

The metric system is the system of measurement used by scientists all over the world. It is called the “International System of Units” (or SI measurements).

The metric system is easier and more orderly than our English system of measurement because it is based on the number 10. Our English system has no rhyme or reason to the way we make conversions within the system. (For example, 12 inches = 1 foot, 3 feet = 1 yard, etc.) In the metric system we’ll always use 10 to go from one unit to the next!)

Basic Metric Units Length – The basic unit is the meter. (Approximation: One meter is a little more than a yard.) Volume – The basic unit is the liter. (Approximation: One liter is a little more than a quart.) Mass – The basic unit is the gram. (Approximation: One gram is approximately the mass of one raisin or one jumbo paperclip or one sheet of notebook paper.)

Other Metric Units Other metric units are named by simply adding a prefix to the basic unit. Examples: deka__ = 10X the basic unit hecto__ = 100X the basic unit (and is 10X the deka___) kilo__ = 1000X the basic unit (and is 20X the hecto__) deci__ = 1/10 the basic unit centi__ = 1/100 the basic unit (and is 1/10 the deci__) milli__ = 1/1000 the basic unit (and is 1/10 the centi__)

Examples of metric units: 1.) centimeter 2.) kilometer 3.) dekaliter 4.) millimeter Abbreviations for units: meter = m gram = g liter = L (always a capital L) Abbreviations for prefixes: kilo = k hecto = h deka = dk deci = d centi = c milli = m

Practice: Use YOUR OWN paper to write the abbreviations for the following: 1.) centigram 2.) milliliter 3.) dekameter 4.) millimeter 5.) decigram 6.) hectoliter

Metric Conversions You will not have to learn how to convert from metric units to English units, but you will have to learn how to convert within the metric system. Because the metric system is based on “10,” it’s easy to make conversions. The staircase below is an extremely quick conversion tool. When you use it, you save the time that you would normally have to take to multiply or divide to get the new units. Move the decimal point one place to the right for each step you MOVE to the right (down the steps). kilo hecto deka Move the decimal point one place to the left for each step you MOVE to the left (up the steps). L-m-g deci centi milli

Sample Problems: Make the following conversions on YOUR OWN paper: 1.) 15 kilograms = _____ centigrams 2.) 2385 millimeters = _____ meters 3.) 0.6 deciliter = _____ dekaliters 4.) 0.0095 kilometer = _____ hectometer