1. Metric System
&
Conversions

2. METRIC TERM – ABBREVIATION – STANDARD SYSTEM COMPARISON
Meter m Length Inch, foot, yard, mile
Gram g Weight Ounce, pound
Liter L* Volume Fluid ounce, cup, pint, quart, gallon
*Capital L is commonly used to prevent confusion of lowercase I and the number 1.

3. TERM ABBREVIATION MEANING
Kilo k units
Hecto h units
Deci d 1/lO or O.1 unit
Centi c /100 or unit
Milli m /l or O.001 unit

4. “More Than 1” Unit of Measure
Weight:
• 1 .0 hectogram = 100 grams • 1 .5 hectograms = 150 grams • 1.0 kilogram = 1000 grams • 1 .5 kilograms = 1500 grams
Length:
• 1 .0 hecto meter = 100 meters • 1.5 hectometers = 150 meters • 1.0 kilometer = 1000 meters • 1.5 kilometers = 1500 meters

5. “Less Than 1” Unit of Measure
Length:
• 1 decimeter (dm) = 1/10 or 0.1 of a meter
• 1 centimeter (cm) = 1/1 00 or 0.01 of a meter
• 1 millimeter (mm) = 1/1 000 or of a meter

6. Volume: • 1 deciliter (dL) = 1/10 or 0.1 of a liter
• 1 milliliter (mL) = 1/1 000 or of a liter

7. Basic Rules for the Metric System
1. Numbers less than one unit are written in decimals. Examples:
2. If there is no number before the decimal point, always add a zero. Examples: .1 is is is 0.75
3. Abbreviations are always singular, never plural. Examples: Grams is abbreviated g, not gs. Liters is abbreviated L, not Ls. Liter is always shortened to capital L, not lowercase I.
4. Leave a space between the number and the abbreviation. Examples: 10 g not lOg ml not l000ml.

8. The Metric Number Line: Another way to help you navigate inside
The Metric Number Line: Another way to help you navigate inside the metric system.
Kilo Hecto Deka * Deci Centi Milli

9. To use the Metric Line: You will decide what unit you are
changing FROM and what unit you are changing TO.
Starting at the FROM unit, count over (keeping in mind- "left" or "right") to the TO unit.

10. EXAMPLE: 32 kilograms = ___________ grams
**This will be the number of places you will move the decimal in your answer.
EXAMPLE: 32 kilograms = ___________ grams
(This means you want to change FROM kilograms TO grams.)
Use the number line and count over, starting at
Kilograms….move to grams.
K H D (grams) D C M
* -> 1 place- ->2 places- -> 3 places

11. Move the decimal 3 places to the "right“
Now we use the number of places you moved (3 places to the "right") to find the answer.
Move the decimal 3 places to the "right“
using a zero to hold each of the places
32 kilograms = grams
Don’t forget that every whole number has a
decimal to it’s right, so in our example
32kg is the same as saying 32.0 kg
(We don’t always write the decimal to the right of a number
but it is understood that it is there.)

12. Standard and Metric Units of Length

13. Measuring Devices: Fluid Ounces and Cubic Centimeters
Baby’s bottle
Graduate
Measuring cup

14. Converting Pounds and Kilograms Converting pounds to kilograms:
Multiply weight in pounds by Examples: 110 lb changed to kilograms: 110 x 0.45 = 49.5 kg 200 lb changed to kilograms: 200 x 0.45 =90 kg
Converting kilograms to pounds: Multiply weight in kilograms by 2.2 Examples: 50 kg changed to pounds: 50 x 2.2 = 110 lb 90 kg changed to pounds: 90 x 2.2 = 198 lb

15. Converting Ounces to Metric Measurements
•Converting ounces to cc/ml
Multiply volume in ounces by 30
Examples:
1 oz medicine 1 × 30 = 30 ml = 30 cc
8 oz water 8 × 30 = 240 ml = 240 cc
6 oz soup 6 × 30 = 180 ml = 180 cc
4 oz juice 4 × 30 = 120 ml = 120 cc
12 oz soda pop 12 × 30 = 360 ml = 360 cc
• Converting ounces to grams
Multiply weight in ounces by 30
Examples:
1 oz changed to grams: 1 × 30 = 30 g
8 oz changed to grams: 8 × 30 = 240 g