The Metric System

Metric chart

Prefix Symbol Factor Number Factor Word

Kilo- k 1000 Thousand

Hecto- h 100 Hundred

Deca- da or dk 10 Ten

Unit m, l, or g 1 One

Deci- d .1 Tenth

Centi- c .01 Hundredth

Milli- m .001 thousandth

Metric chart

Prefix Symbol Factor Number Factor Word

Kilo- k 1000 Thousand

Unit m, l, or g 1 One

Centi- c .01 Hundredth

Milli- m .001 thousandth

Converting Metric Units

Conversion Factors

Kilo Centi Milli

1000 g = 1kg 100 cg = 1g 1000 mg = 1g

1000 m = 1km 100 cm = 1m 1000 mm = 1m

1000 L = 1kL 100 cL = 1L 1000 mL = 1L

How many cm are in 1.32 meters?

or

1.32 m =

applicable conversion factors:

equality: 1 m = 100 cm

______1 m100 cm

Remember units must cancel!

______1 m

100 cm

( )______1 m

100 cm 132 cm

How many liters is 8.72 mL?

applicable conversion factors:

8.72 mL =

equality: 1 L = 1000 mL

Again, the units must cancel.

or

______1 L1000 mL

______1 L

1000 mL

( )______ 0.0087 L1 L1000 mL