The document discusses the metric system of measurement. It explains that the metric system is based on a base unit and prefixes that are used to denote powers of ten. It provides the prefixes for the metric system and gives the base units and conversions for length, mass, and capacity. Examples are given for converting between metric units by moving the decimal point right or left based on the prefixes.

1. The METRIC SYSTEM
& CONVERSIONS
MSJC ~ San Jacinto Campus
Math Center Workshop Series
Janice Levasseur

2. The Metric System
• The metric system is an internationally
standardized system of units of
measurement.
• The metric system is based on a base
unit and prefixes.

3. Prefixes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Kilo Hecto Deca Deci Centi Milli -
1000
100
10
1
0.1
0.01
0.001
k
h
da
d
c
m

4. Length
• The basic unit of length in the metric system is
the meter (m)
• Metric Units of Length
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Kilometer (km) = 1000 m
Hectometer (hm) = 100 m
Decameter (dam) = 10 m
Meter (m) = 1 m
Decimeter (dm) = 0.1 m
Centimeter (cm) = 0.01 m
Millimeter (mm) = 0.001 m

5. Mass
• Weight is a measure of how strongly
gravity is pulling on an object (decreases
as elevation increases)
• Mass is the amount of material in an
object (doesn’t change)
• Note: on Earth, weight and mass are
used interchangeably

6. Mass
• The basic unit of mass in the metric system is a
gram (g)
• 1 g = mass of water in a cube that measures 1
cm x 1 cm x 1cm
• Metric Units of Mass
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Kilogram (kg) = 1000 g
Hectogram (hg) = 100 g
Decagram (dag) = 10 g
Gram (g) = 1 g
Decigram (dg) = 0.1 g
Centigram (cg) = 0.01 g
Milligram (mg) = 0.001 g

7. Capacity
• Liquid substances are measured in units of capacity.
• The basic unit of mass in the metric system is a liter (L)
• 1 L = capacity of a cube that measures 10 cm x 10 cm
x 10 cm
• Metric Units of Capacity
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Kiloliter (kL) = 1000 L
Hectoliter (hL) = 100 L
Decaliter (daL) = 10 L
Liter (L) = 1 L
Deciliter (dL) = 0.1 L
Centiliter (cL) = 0.01 L
Milliliter (mL) = 0.001 L

8. Conversions within the Metric
System
• To convert units within the metric system,
write the prefixes in order from largest to
smallest
k
h
da
d
c
m
• To convert from a smaller unit to a larger unit,
move to the left
• To convert from a larger unit to a smaller unit,
move to the right

9. Ex: Convert 1600 cm to m
• km
hm
dam
m
dm
cm
mm
• Move 2 places to the left to get from cm to m
• Therefore, move the decimal point in 1600
two places to the left to convert from cm to m
 1600 cm = 16.00 m

10. Ex: Convert 2 kL to L
• kL
hL
daL
L
dL
cL
mL
• Move 3 places to the right to get from kL to L
• Therefore, move the decimal point in 2 three
places to the right to convert from kL to L
 2 KL = 2000 L

11. Ex: Convert 241 g to mg
• kg
hg
dag
g
dg
cg
mg
• Move 3 places to the right to get from g to mg
• Therefore, move the decimal point in 241 three
places to the right to convert from g to mg
 241 g = 241,000 mg

12. Ex: Convert 3 mL to L
• kL
hL
daL
L
dL
cL
mL
• Move 3 places to the left to get from mL to L
• Therefore, move the decimal point in 3 three
places to the left to convert from mL to L
 3 mL = 0.003 L

13. Ex: Convert 45 cm to km
• km
hm
dam
m
dm
cm
mm
• Move 5 places to the left to get from cm to km
• Therefore, move the decimal point in 45 five
places to the left to convert from cm to km
 45 cm = 0.00045 km

14. Ex: Convert 5.4 kg to dg
• kg
hg
dag
g
dg
cg
mg
• Move 4 places to the right to get from kg to dg
• Therefore, move the decimal point in 5.4 four
places to the right to convert from kg to dg
 5.4 kg = 54000 dg