METRIC CONVERSION

You can do Metric Conversion if:

You can Count Up to Twelve and Know Your Left From Your Right

What are Metric Conversions?

Sometimes we need to change from one

measurement to another.

This is usually done because the unit that is used is either too big or too small for that

type of measurement.

TOO BIG !!!

525,568 millimeters

Sometimes the number is too big for the unit being measured.

Too Small

0.00654 km

Sometimes the number is too small for the unit being

measured

How Do We Fix This Problem?

We can correct these problems by doing a process called Metric Conversion.

Metric Conversion: changing from one unit of measurement to another.

The Staircase Method

We will be using a method called The Stair-step Method of Metric Conversion.

It requires two things; one, that you be able to count to 12, and two, that you know your left from your right.

Staircase Method Staircase Method

Kilo-

Hecto-

Deka-

base units

Deci-

Centi-

Milli-

Base unitsg, m, L

Larger units Smaller units

Move up the stairs, decimal moves to the

Move down the stairs, decimal moves to the

How Do I Use This?

Start: The first letter* of the prefix in the unit of measurement tells you which step to start on.

Stop: The first letter* in the second unit of measurement tells you which step to stop on.

*The exception to “first letter” being the prefix deka, which uses “da”. This shouldn’t pose a problem since there is no base unit that you will be using that starts with an “a”.

Using the stair step methodUsing the stair step method

1. Find your starting step2. Count the # of steps it takes to get to the

step that you need to stop on. A. If you move to the (downstairs) the

decimal in the first measurement moves that many places to the .

B. If you move to the (upstairs) then the decimal moves to the .

3. Fill any empty places with zeros.

The Stair-step

Kilo-

Hecto-

Deka-

base units

Deci-

Centi-

Milli-

Grams, liters,meters

525568 mm = ? mMillimeters are a very small amount of distance.

You would not want to measure a large distance in a very small unit.

Kilo-

Hecto-

Deka-

base units

Deci-

Centi-

Milli-

Base unitsg, L,m

Moved 3 to the Moved 3 to the

525.568m525.568m

0.00654 km = ? m

Kilometers(km) are a fairly large unit of distance. You would not want to measure a small distance in a large unit, so we need to convert it to a smaller unit, the meter.

Kilom is 3 steps to the right

Therefore, 0.00654 km becomes 6.54 m.

Hey! This Is Easy!

You bet it’s easy! Like we said on the first slide…..

Be able to count up to twelve and know your left from your right.

Now, get your stair-step sheet and your practice problems and do some more conversions!

What is the value for each prefix?

Convert:

1. 20kg to grams

2. 10m to km

3. 34cl to ml