1. Measurements and Metrics

2. Background Information
 Ancient measurements were based on:
 (1) body parts, such as hands and
feet
 (2) food, such as grains of rice

4.  Used in nearly every country in the
world, the Metric System (SI) was
devised by French scientists in the late
18th century

5. Did You Know?
 1) The metric system is based on powers of 10 so it is much easier to
convert units, often just by moving the decimal point.
2) Once you remember the meaning of the prefixes, you can easily
convert mass, volume and distance measurements. No further
conversion factors need to be memorized except the specific power of 10.
But for the English System you have to remember 5280 ft = 1 mile, 4
quarts = 1 gallon, 3 feet = 1 yard, 16 oz. = 1 lb, etc.
3) The metric system is a international standard used by nearly all the
countries of the world. There are actually only *three* countries (i.e.
United States, Liberia and Burma) that are still using the English system.

6.  The goal of this effort was to produce
a system that used the decimal
point rather than fractions
 Also wanted a single unified system
that could be used throughout the
world

7. Length
 Meter (m)= base unit
 Kilometer (km) = 1000
meters
 Centimeter (cm)= one-
hundredth of a meter
 Millimeter (mm)= one-
thousandth of a meter

8. Mass
 Gram (g) = base
unit
 Kilogram (kg) = 1000
grams
 Milligram (mg) =
one-thousandth of a
gram

9. Volume
 Liter (L) = base unit
 Milliliter (mL) = one-
thousandth of a liter
 Cubic centimeter (cm3)
 1 mL = 1 cm3 = 1 cc
*Volume of regular object =
use ruler L x W x H

10. Converting with Metric System
 When converting with the
metric system it is simply a
measure of moving the
decimal in the correct
direction
 SI units are based on units
of 10

11. Sentence to remember:
 King Henry Died in Space Drinking Chocolate
Milk
 Kilo
 Hecto
 Deca
 Space (meter, liter, gram)
 Deci
 Centi
 Milli

12. Where is the Decimal?
 What is the difference between $20 and $20.00?
 A whole number always has a decimal that follows it,
even if you don’t see it!

Add the decimal to the number before you convert!
20 .=

13. Metric Conversion Ladder
 Find the spot (unit) on the ladder that has the same prefix as the measurement
you are starting with
 Locate the spot on the ladder that you want to convert your number to
 Count the number of steps you must move on the ladder to make your
conversion
 Move the decimal in your original number this same number of steps and in the
same direction (don't forget the Base step)