METRIC SYSTEM OF MEASUREMENT

This unit is about the metric system of measurement. Topics examined are
measurements and conversions. Units of length, area and volume will be
studied and applied to “real world” scenarios.

Metric Units

Metric System Prefixes

Metric System Conversion Tables

Measuring with Metric Units of Length

Converting Metric Units

Metric Units of Area

Metric Units of Volume

Metric Units
Scientists, doctors, and people of many other countries use the metric system
of measurement.

Length

Kilometer (km)

ƒ A kilometer is a distance that is about 7

blocks long.
ƒ Kilometers are used to measure long
distances.

A kilometer equals 0.6 mile.

Meter (m)

ƒ A meter is about as long as a baseball bat.

ƒ A meter stick could be used to measure the
length of a room.

A meter equals 1.09 yards.

Centimeter (cm)

ƒ A centimeter is about the width of the

“pinky” finger.
ƒ A centimeter is a little less than half an inch
long.

A centimeter equals 0.39 inch, a little less than half an inch.

cm
Millimeter (mm) mm

ƒ A millimeter is about as long as the

thickness of the wire in a paper clip.
ƒ The thickness of a dime is about two
millimeters.
not actual size
A millimeter equals 0.1 of a centimeter or about
0.04 inch.

Weight

Kilogram (kg)

ƒ A pair of shoes could weigh about a

kilogram.

A kilogram weighs 2.2 pounds.

Gram (g)

ƒ The weight of a cherry is close to a gram.

A gram weighs 0.04 ounces.

Milligram (mg)

ƒ The weight of a grain of sand is close to a

milligram.

A milligram weighs 0.000035 ounces.

Capacity

Liter (l)

ƒ A liter is a little more than a quart of milk.

A liter equals 1.06 quarts.

Milliliter (ml)

ƒ The amount of medicine that is held in a dropper is

about one milliliter.

A milliliter equals 0.03 ounces.

Metric System Prefixes

Metric prefixes have meaning.

Units Larger Than the Base Unit

kilo-

Kilo means 1000 times the base unit.

ƒ kilo + meter means 1000 meters

ƒ 1 kilometer = 1000 meters

Example 1: If the base unit is gram, then kilo + gram is a kilogram.

kilo + gram means 1000 grams

1 kilogram = 1000 grams

hecto-

Hecto means 100 times the base unit.

ƒ hecto + meter means 100 meters

ƒ 1 hectometer = 100 meters

Example 2: If the base unit is gram, then hecto + gram is a hectogram.

Hecto + gram means 100 grams

1 hectogram = 100 grams

deka-

Deka means 10 times the base unit.

ƒ deka + meter means 10 meters

ƒ 1 dekameter = 10 meters

Example 3: If the base unit is liter, then deka + liter is a dekaliter.

deka + liter means 10 liters

1 dekaliter = 10 liters

Units Smaller Than the Base Unit

deci-

1
Deci means of the base unit.
10

1
ƒ deci + meter means of a meter
10
1
ƒ 1 decimeter = meter
10

Example 4: If the base unit is gram, then deci + gram is a decigram.

1
deci + gram means of a gram
10

1
1 decigram = gram
10
centi-

1
Centi means of the base unit.
100

1
ƒ centi + meter means of a meter
100

1
ƒ 1 centimeter = meter
100

Example 5: If the base unit is gram, then centi + gram is a centigram.

1
centi + gram means of a gram
100

1
1 centigram = gram
100

milli-

1
Milli means of the base unit.
1000

1
ƒ milli + meter means of a meter
1000
1
ƒ 1 millimeter = meter
1000
Example 6: If the base unit is liter, then
milli + liter is a milliliter.

1
milli + liter means of a liter
1000

1
1 milliliter = liter
1000
Metric System Conversion Tables

Length Weight

kilometer (km) 1000 meters kilogram (kg) 1000 grams

hectometer (hm) 100 meters hectogram (hg) 100 grams

dekameter (dkm) 10 meters dekagram (dkg) 10 grams

meter (m) 1 meter gram (g) 1 gram

1 1
1 decimeter (dm) m 1 decigram (dg) g
10 10
1 1
1 centimeter (cm) m 1 centigram (cg) g
100 100
1 1
1 millimeter (mm) m 1 milligram (mg) g
1000 1000

Capacity
kiloliter (kl) 1000 liters

hectoliter (hl) 100 liters

dekaliter (dkl) 10 liters

liter (l) 1 liter

1
1 deciliter (dl) l
10
1
1 centiliter (cl) l
100
1
1 milliliter (ml) l
1000
Measuring with Metric Units of Length

Look closely at the rulers below to view centimeters and millimeters.

Each centimeter is represented by the longest marks. A centimeter is the

length from the mark of one number to the mark of the next number.

One centimeter (from 3 to 4) is enlarged to show the millimeter segments

more clearly. Count the spaces between 3 and 4. There are 10 spaces. This
means there are 10 millimeters in a centimeter.
cm

mm

1 cm = 10 mm

not actual size

*Note: The marks on the ruler that are longer than the millimeter marks, but
shorter than the centimeter marks, are the halfway marks between one
centimeter and the next centimeter. Thus the half-way marks denote 1/2 cm
(1/2 of a centimeter) or 5 millimeters (1/2 of 10 millimeters).
Example 1: Using the ruler shown below, determine approximately
how long the pencil is in centimeters.

Since the pencil is a little over halfway

between 2 and 3, the length of the pencil
is closer to 3 cm than 2 cm. The pencil
measures approximately 3 cm
(centimeters).

Example 2: Using the same ruler shown below, determine

approximately how long the pencil is in millimeters.

Since one centimeter equals 10

millimeters, count 10, 20 up to 2
centimeters, then count in ones. The
pencil is approximately 27 mm
(millimeters) long.
Examine the “zoomed –in” view of the ruler for a closer look at
reading the measurement of 27 millimeters.
 Converting Metric Units

Large Units to Small Units (MULTIPLY)

To express a larger unit as a smaller unit, MULTIPLY by the conversion

factor.

The metric units are arranged on steps in order from the largest unit on the top
step to the smallest unit on the bottom step. The conversion factor is beside the
arrow. Start on the top step and step down to convert from a larger unit to a
smaller unit.

length weight capacity

kilometer kilogram kiloliter
km hectometer kg hectogram kl hectoliter
hm dekameter hg dekagram hl dekaliter
dkm meter dkg gram dkl liter
¯ 10 ¯ 10 ¯ 10
¯ 10 m decimeter ¯ 10 g decigram ¯ 10 l deciliter
dm centimeter dg centigram dl centiliter
¯ 10 ¯ 10 ¯ 10
cm millimeter cg milligram cl milliliter
¯ 10 ¯ 10 ¯ 10
mm mg ml
¯ 10 ¯ 10 ¯ 10
¯ 10 ¯ 10 ¯ 10

Let’s take a look at how to use the steps to convert units “within” the metric
system. Place your pencil on the given unit, and then “step” down, counting
each step down as you go along. Stop when you reach the unit to which you
are converting. Each step down represents a “multiplication by 10”.
 Example 1: 7 km = ______ m
Example 2: 4.8 g = ______ cg
Using the steps,
ƒ multiply 7 ¯ 10 ¯ 10 ¯ 10 Using the steps,
(three steps down)
ƒ multiply 4.8 ¯ 10¯ 10
ƒ multiply 7 ¯ 1000 (two steps down)
ƒ multiply 4.8 ¯ 100
7 km = 7000 m
4.8 g = 480 cg
Example 3: 5 dkl = ______ l
ƒ multiply 5 ¯ 10
(one step down)

5 dkl = 50 l

*Reminder: When you multiply by numbers that are powers of ten (10,
100, 1000, etc.), you can count the zeros and move the decimal point that
many places to the right.

In Example 2 above, the shortcut for multiplying 4.8 by 100 is to move the
decimal point two places to the right. Fill in with zeros as needed.

4.8 ×100 = (4.8 → 480.) = 480

 Small Units to Large Units (DIVIDE)

To express a smaller unit as a larger unit, DIVIDE by the conversion

factor.

The metric units are arranged on steps in order from the largest unit on the top
step to the smallest unit on the bottom step. The conversion factor is beside the
arrow. Start on the bottom step and step up to convert from a smaller unit to a
larger unit.

length weight capacity

kilometer kilogram kiloliter
km hectometer kg hectogram kl hectoliter
hm dekameter hg dekagram hl dekaliter
dkm meter dkg gram dkl liter
÷ 10 ÷ 10 ÷ 10
÷ 10 m decimeter ÷ 10 g decigram ÷ 10 l deciliter
dm centimeter dg centigram dl centiliter
÷ 10 ÷ 10 ÷ 10
cm millimeter cg milligram cl milliliter
÷ 10 ÷ 10 ÷ 10
mm mg ml
÷ 10 ÷ 10 ÷ 10
÷ 10 ÷ 10 ÷ 10

Let’s take a look at how to use the steps to convert units “within” the metric
system. Place your pencil on the given unit, and then “step” up, counting
each step up as you go along. Stop when you reach the unit to which you are
converting. Each step up represents a “division by 10”.
 Example 4: 700 cm = ______ m

Using the steps,

ƒ compute 700 ÷ 10 ÷ 10. Example 5: 6500 ml = ______ l
(two steps up) Using the steps,
ƒ compute 700 ÷ 100. ƒ compute 6500 ÷ 10 ÷ 10 ÷ 10.
(three steps up)
700 cm = 7 m ƒ compute 6500 ÷ 1000.

6500 ml = 6.5 l
Example 6: 80 mg = ______ cg

ƒ Using the steps, divide 80 by 10.

(one step up)

80 mg = 8 cg

*Reminder: When you divide by numbers that are powers of ten (10, 100,
1000, etc.), you can count the zeros and move the decimal point that many
places to the left.

In Example 3 above, the shortcut for dividing 4500 by 1000 is to move the
decimal point three places to the left. Drop zeros that are no longer needed
after the division occurs.

6500 ÷1000 = (6500. → 6500. → 6.500 → 6.500) = 6.5

Metric Units of Area

Use the table of metric units of area to find equivalent areas.

Unit Abbreviation Equivalence
square kilometer sq km or km2 1 sq km = 1,000,000 square meters
hectare ha 1 ha = 10,000 square meters
square centimeter sq cm or cm2 1 sq cm = 0.0001 square meter

Example 1: Terry’s ranch covers five

hectares. She wants to calculate the area of
her ranch in square meters.

ƒ Terry’s ranch is 5 hectares.

ƒ Refer to the conversion table,
1 hectare = 10,000 square meters.
ƒ Calculate the area in square meters

5 ha = ? m 2

Write a proportion comparing units.

ha ha
=
m2 m2

Substitute the conversion data from the chart (1 ha = 10,000 sq m)

and the information given in the problem (5 ha) into the
proportion. Let n represent the area of the farm in square meters.

1 5
=
10,000 n

Cross multiply.

1× n = 10,000 × 5
n = 50,000
The area of the Terry’s five-hectare ranch is 50,000 square meters.

Example 2: 2000 square centimeters = __________ square meters

ƒ Given: 2000 square centimeters.

ƒ From the conversion table, 1 square centimeter = 0.0001 square
meter.
ƒ Set up a proportion and solve.

2000 cm 2 = ? m 2

Write a proportion comparing units.

cm 2 cm 2
= 2
m2 m

Substitute the conversion data from the chart (1 sq cm = 0.0001 sq

m) and the information given in the problem (2000 sq cm) into the
proportion. Let n represent the number of square meters.

1 2000
=
0.0001 n

Cross multiply.

1× n = 0.0001× 2000
n = 0.2

Two thousand square centimeters equal 0.2 square meters.

Example 3: _________ hectare(s) = 12,000 square meters

ƒ Given: 12,000 square meters.

ƒ From the conversion table, 1 hectare = 10,000 square meters.
ƒ Set up a proportion and solve.

? ha = 12,000 m 2

Write a proportion comparing units.

ha ha
=
m2 m2

Substitute the conversion data from the chart (1 ha = 10,000 sq m)

and the information given in the problem (12,000 sq m) into the
proportion. Let n represent the number of hectares.

1 n
=
10,000 12,000

Cross multiply.

10,000 × n = 1×12,000
10,000n = 12,000
n = 1.2

Twelve thousand square meters equal 1.2 hectares.

Metric Units of Volume

Unit Abbreviation Number of Cubic Meters

1 cubic meter =
cubic meter cu m or m3
1,000,000 cubic centimeters
1 cubic centimeter =
cubic centimeter cu cm or cm3
0.000001 cubic meter

Let’s take a look at the meaning of the metric equivalences given in the
table.

How does one cubic meter equal one million cubic centimeters?

ƒ From the metric units of length we know that: 1 m = 100 cm.

ƒ So, cube each side to get: (1 m)3 = (100 cm)3

Thus, 1 m3 = 100 ×100 ×100 = 1,000,000 cm3

How does one cubic centimeter equal one-millionth of a cubic meter?

1
ƒ From the metric units of length we know that: 1 cm = m
100
1
ƒ So, cube each side to get: (1 cm)3 = ( m )3
100

1 1 1 1
ƒ Thus, 1 cm3 = × × = m3
100 100 100 1,000,000

ƒ Therefore, 1 cm3 = 0.000001 m3

Example 1: 500 cubic meters = __________ cubic centimeters

ƒ Given: 500 cubic meters.

ƒ From the conversion table,
1 cubic meter = 1,000,000 cubic centimeters
ƒ Set up a proportion and solve.

500 m 3 = ? cm 3

Write a proportion comparing units.

m3 m3
=
cm 3 cm 3

Substitute the conversion data from the chart (1 cu m = 1,000,000

cu cm) and the information given in the problem (500 cu m) into
the proportion.

Let n represent the number of cubic centimeters.

1 m3 500 m 3
=
1,000,000 cm 3 n

Cross multiply.

1× n = 1,000,000 × 500
n = 500,000,000

Five hundred cubic meters equal 500 million cubic centimeters.

Example 2: _________ cubic meters = 900,000 cubic centimeters

ƒ Given: 900,000 cubic centimeters.

ƒ From the conversion table,
1 cubic centimeter = 0.000001 cubic meters.
ƒ Set up a proportion and solve.

? m 3 = 900,000 cm 3

Write a proportion comparing units.

m3 m3
=
cm 3 cm 3

Substitute the conversion data from the chart (1 cu cm = 0.000001

cu m) and the information given in the problem (900,000 cu cm)
into the proportion.

Let n represent the number of cubic meters.

1 cm 3 900,000 cm 3
=
0.000001 m 3 n

Cross multiply.

1× n = 0.000001× 900,000
n = 0.9

Nine hundred thousand cubic centimeters equal 0.9 cubic meters.