Metric System - Units of Measurement Review
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This section is a quick review of the metric system - it is meant to refresh you on the basics.
The metric system is originally based on water and the number 10 - which makes it convenient to convert from one unit to another, and to use the decimal system.
The metric system is originally based on water and the number 10 - which makes it convenient to convert from one unit to another, and to use the decimal system.
Unit Conversions
Unit Conversions
To convert from one unit of measurement to another, you either multiply or divide by 100's or 1000's, and change the prefix.
For instance, if I had 1000 meter sticks in a row, I could say 1 km (Kilo meter) - because I have 1000 main units.
If I had 1/100th of a meter (.01m) it would be easier to say that I have 1 cm (centi-meter).
If I had 1/1000 of a meter (.001 m), it would be easier to day that I have 1 mm (milli-meter).
So If I had 1.5 m, its the same as saying 150 cm, or 1500 mm. By moving the decimal up or down, I'm changing the unit of measurement.
To convert from one unit of measurement to another, you either multiply or divide by 100's or 1000's, and change the prefix.
For instance, if I had 1000 meter sticks in a row, I could say 1 km (Kilo meter) - because I have 1000 main units.
If I had 1/100th of a meter (.01m) it would be easier to say that I have 1 cm (centi-meter).
If I had 1/1000 of a meter (.001 m), it would be easier to day that I have 1 mm (milli-meter).
So If I had 1.5 m, its the same as saying 150 cm, or 1500 mm. By moving the decimal up or down, I'm changing the unit of measurement.