2. Metric System
Everything is based off of the number 10!
Kilo = 1,000
Hecto = 100
Deka = 10
Base Unit = 1
Deci = .10
Centi = .01
Milli = .001
So… 1 Kilometer is 1,000 meters.
3. Converting Within The
Metric System
It’s just a matter of moving a decimal point.
To convert from 1,900 grams to kilograms, you move three
decimal points to the LEFT. Kilograms are larger than grams.
1,900 grams is the same as 1.9 kilograms.
4. Why Use The Metric System?
The United States is one of the few countries
left that uses the traditional English
measurement system. The metric system is
almost universal.
Go to any gas station in Canada and you will
see that it is $/liter instead of $/gallon!
Trivia: The United States did try to convert to
the metric system when Jimmy Carter was
president, but it didn’t work. That’s why we
still have beverage bottles that use liters
instead of pints or gallons!
