Metric Conversions DRUL Method

Warm-up: Writing Metric Terms

• List as many rules for writing metric rules as you can think of in your notebook

• Come up to the board and list your answers. If your answer is the same as another student’s place a check mark next to their answer.

Rules for writing metric terms:• Square the actual unit, not the measurement.

• Use a 0 in front of the decimal point

• Use a space between number and unit symbol

• Don’t use plurals

• No Fractions always decimals

• When moving up go to the left and when moving down go to the right .

• No periods at the end of a measurement

Metric System

• Standard measurement system used in almost all countries and in science

• Easy to convert measurements

• Based on powers of ten

• Convert by moving the decimal point (NO FRACTIONS!)

Units of Measurement

Unit Symbol What it Measures

Meter m length

Gram g weight

Liter L volume

Celsius C temperature

10 mm = 1 cm

Millimeter is smaller; centimeters are larger.

Equals

• 3 cm = ____ mm

• 20 mm = ____ cm

Metric AbbreviationsWrite the correct abbreviation for each metric unit.

1) Kilogram = _____ 4) Milliliter =_____ 7) Kilometer =_____

2) Meter = ___ 5) Millimeter = ___ 8) Centimeter =_____

3) Gram =____ 6) Liter = _____ 9) Milligram =_____

KILO1000Units

HECTO100

Units

DEKA10

UnitsDECI

0.1Unit

CENTI0.01Unit

MILLI0.001Unit

MetersLitersGrams

DRUL Method12

3

Up to the Left

Down to the Right

Kilo Hecto Deka OVER Deci Centi Milli

Kids Have Dropped OVER Dead Converting Metrics

King Henry Does OVER Drink Chocolate Milk

      Equals

               

KILO1000Units

HECTO100

Units

DEKA10

UnitsDECI

0.1Unit

CENTI0.01Unit

MILLI0.001Unit

MetersLitersGrams

DRUL Method

How do you use the “DRUL” method?

1st – Determine your starting point.

2nd – Count “jumps” to your ending point.

3rd – Move decimal point same number of jumps in same direction.

4 km = _________ m

12

3

How many jumps does it take?

Starting Point Ending Point

4.1

__.2

__.3

__. = 4000 m

Up to the Left

Down to the Right

Try these conversions using the ladder method.

1000 mg = _______ g 1 L = _______ mL 160 cm = _______ mm

14 km = _______ m 109 g = _______ kg 250 m = _______ km

Conversion Practice

Compare using <, >, or =.

56 cm 6 m 7 g 698 mg

Try these conversions, using the ladder method.

10) 2000 mg = _______ g 15) 5 L = _______ mL 20) 16 cm = _______ mm

11) 104 km = _______ m 16) 198 g = _______ kg 21) 2500 m = _______ km

12) 480 cm = _____ m 17) 75 mL = _____ L 22) 65 g = _____ mg

13) 5.6 kg = _____ g 18) 50 cm = _____ m 23) 6.3 cm = _____ mm

14) 8 mm = _____ cm 19) 5.6 m = _____ cm 24) 120 mg = _____ g

Metric Conversion Challenge

Compare using <, >, or =.

25) 63 cm 6 m 27) 5 g 508 mg 29) 1,500 mL 1.5 L

26) 536 cm 53.6 dm 28) 43 mg 5 g 30) 3.6 m 36 cm