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.

L K H D M. D C M G 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

King Henry Died Monday Drinking Chocolate Milk

K H D M. D C M 1 .001 1m.=________km.

K H D M. D C M 1 100 1hm.=________m..

K H D M. D C M 81 .81 81cm.=________m..

G K H D M. D C M 1.2 0000 1.2 kg =_______cg. 120000

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

How many jumps does it take? Ladder Method 1 2 3 KILO 1000 Units HECTO 100 Units DEKA 10 Units DECI 0.1 Unit Meters Liters Grams CENTI 0.01 Unit MILLI 0.001 Unit 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? = 4000 m 4. 1 __. 2 __. 3 __.

Conversion Practice 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 Compare using <, >, or =. 56 cm 6 m 7 g 698 mg

Metric Conversion Challenge 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

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