Metric System

How to solve the problems quickly!

Metric ConversionsUsing the Ladder Method

Base Unitmeter/liter/gram

To convert to a smaller unit, move decimal point to right.

To convert to a larger unit, move decimal point to left.

Large Units

Base Unitmeter/liter/gram

Deka – 10Units

Kilo -1000 Units Hecto –

100 Units

To convert to a larger unit, move decimal point to left.

Ex: 10 meters (m) = ______ km

10.0 m = 0.01 km

Smaller Units

Base Unitmeter/liter/gram

Deka – 10Units

Kilo -1000 Units Hecto –

100 Units

Deci – 0.1 (1/10)Units Centi –

0.01 (1/100)units

Milli – 0.001 (1/1000)units

To convert to a smaller unit, move decimal point to right.

Ex: 10 meters (m) = ______ cm

10.0 m = 1000 cm

Convert 47 Dekameters to Decimeters.Largest-----------------------------------Basic Unit-----------------------------------Smallest

Kilo- Hecto- Deka- * Deci- Centi- Milli- Convert 57 Decimeters to Dekameters

Practice Problems

Try these conversions, using the ladder method.

• 1000 mg = _______ g • 1 L = _______ mL• 160 cm = _______ mm • 1.4 km = _______ m• 10.9 cg = _______ kg • .250 m = _______ km