Meters, Grams and Liters

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.

Metric Prefixes

Metric Units
The metric system has prefix modifiers that are multiples of
10.

Prefix Symbol

Factor Number Factor Word

Kilo-

1000

Thousand

HectoDecaUnit
DeciCentiMilli-

h
da or dk
m, l, or g
d
c
m

100
10
1
.1
.01
.001

Hundred
Ten
One
Tenth
Hundredth
thousandth

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

Meters
Meters measure
length or distance
One millimeter is
about the thickness of
a dime.

Meters
One centimeter is
about the width of a
large paper clip

or your fingernail.

Meters
A meter is about the width of a doorway

Meters
A kilometer is about six city blocks or 10
football fields.

1.6 kilometers is about 1 mile

Gram
Grams are used to
measure mass or the
weight of an object.

Grams
A milligram weighs
about as much as a
grain of salt.

Grams
1 gram weighs about
as much as a small
paper clip.

1 kilogram weighs
about as much as 6
apples or 2 pounds.

Liters
Liters measure liquids
or capacity.

Liter
1 milliliter is about the
amount of one drop

Liter
1 liter is half of a 2
liter bottle of Coke or
other soda

Liter
A kiloliter would be
about 500 2-liter
bottles of pop

Which unit would you use to

measure the length of this bicycle?

km

cm

mm

Which unit would you use to

measure the mass of a penny?

km

cL

mg

Which unit would you use to

measure the water in an aquarium?

cL

mg

Which unit would you use to

measure the mass of a feather?

cL

mg

Which unit would you use to

measure the mass of a student
desk?

kg

cL

mg

Which unit would you use to

measure the mass of a whole
watermelon?

kg

cL

mg

Which unit would you use to

measure the mass of an egg?

kg

mm

mg

Which unit would you use to

measure a can of soup?

kL

mm

mL

Which unit would you use to

measure this glass of milk?

kL

cL

mL

Which unit would you use to

measure the distance across
Kansas?

km

cm

mL

Which unit would you use to

measure the height of a tree?

km

cm

mm

Which unit would you use to

measure the length of a bracelet?

km

cm

mm

Changing Metric Units

To change from one unit to another in the

metric system you simply multiply or divide
by a power of 10.

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

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

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

To change from smaller units

to larger units you divide by a
power of ten.
1000mm 10 = 100cm
100cm 10 = 10dm
10dm 10 = 1m

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

Place Values of Metric Prefixes

km
kg
kL

hm
hg
hL

dkm
dkg
dkL

m
g
L

dm
dg
dL

cm
cg
cL

mm
mg
mL

3km

30hm

300dkm

3000m

30000dm

300000cm

3000000mm

4L
12cm

Sorry!
That is not the BEST choice!