1. The Metric System
The metric system is a measurement system based on our decimal (base 10) number system.
Other countries and all scientists and engineers use the metric system for measurement.

2. Changing Metric Units
To change from one unit to another in the metric system you simply multiply or divide by a power of 10.

3. Metric Prefixes
The metric system has prefix modifiers that are multiples of 10.
Prefix
Symbol
Factor Number
Factor Word
Kilo- k
1000
Thousand
Hecto- h
100
Hundred
Deca-
da or dk 10
Ten
Unit
m, l, or g 1
One
Deci- d .1
Tenth
Centi- c
.01
Hundredth
Milli- m
.001
thousandth

4. Centimeter A fingernail is about 1 centimeter wide
A staple is about 1 centimeter long

5. To change from a larger unit to a smaller unit, you need to multiply.
1 km x 1000 = 1000 m
1 m x 100 = 100 cm
1 cm x 10 = 10mm

6. Hectometer A hectometer is about the length of a soccer field.
A hectometer is about the height of Big Ben, the famous clock tower in London.

7. Decimeter A crayon is about 1 decimeter long
The palm of an adult is about 1 decimeter wide

8. To change from smaller units to larger units you divide by a power of ten.
1000mm ÷ 10 = 100cm
100cm ÷ 10 = 10dm
10dm ÷ 10 = 1m

9. Place Values of Metric Prefixes
Move the decimal point to the right to multiply.
Thousand
Hundred
Ten
One
Tenth
Hundredth
Thousandth km kL kg hm hL hg
dkm
dkL
dkg m L g dm dL dg cm cL cg mm mL mg

10. Decameter
A decameter is about the length of the end zone of a football field.
A decameter is about the length of a school bus.

11. Place Values of Metric Prefixes
Thousand
Hundred
Ten
One
Tenth
Hundredth
Thousandth km kg kL hm hg hL
dkm
dkg
dkL m g L dm dg dL cm cg cL mm mg mL

12. Kilometer A kilometer is about six city
A kilometer is a little over half a mile.

13. Place Values of Metric Prefixes
Move the decimal point to the left to divide.
Thousand
Hundred
Ten
One
Tenth
Hundredth
Thousandth km kL kg hm hL hg
dkm
dkL
dkg m L g dm dL dg cm cL cg mm mL mg

14. Meters A meter is about the width of a doorway
A meter is about the length of a guitar.

15. Place Values of Metric Prefixeskm kg kL hm hg hL
dkm
dkg
dkL m g L dm dg dL cm cg cL mm mg mL
3km
30hm
300dkm
3000m 4L
30000dm
300000cm
12cm mm

16. Millimeter A credit card about 1 millimeter thick
A dime is about 1 millimeter thick.