Convert and compare metric units

  • The metric system is a decimal-based system of measurement.
  • Common metric units include:
    • Length: millimeter (mm), centimeter (cm), meter (m), kilometer (km)
    • Mass: milligram (mg), gram (g), kilogram (kg)
    • Volume: milliliter (mL), liter (L)
    • Temperature: degrees Celsius (°C)

  • Metric units are based on powers of 10, so converting between them is easy.
  • To convert to a larger unit (e.g., cm to m):
    • Divide by 10, 100, 1000, etc., depending on the difference in size.
    • Example: 100 cm = 1 m (divide by 100)
  • To convert to a smaller unit (e.g., km to m):
    • Multiply by 10, 100, 1000, etc.
    • Example: 5 km = 5000 m (multiply by 1000)

  • Length:
    • 1 kilometer (km) = 1000 meters (m)
    • 1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm)
    • 1 centimeter (cm) = 10 millimeters (mm)
  • Mass:
    • 1 kilogram (kg) = 1000 grams (g)
    • 1 gram (g) = 1000 milligrams (mg)
  • Volume:
    • 1 liter (L) = 1000 milliliters (mL)

  • Example: Convert 5000 millimeters (mm) to meters (m):
    • 5000 mm ÷ 1000 = 5 meters (m)

  • Example: Convert 2.5 kilograms (kg) to grams (g):
    • 2.5 kg × 1000 = 2500 grams (g)

  • Example: Convert 350 milliliters (mL) to liters (L):
    • 350 mL ÷ 1000 = 0.35 liters (L)

  • Length: Larger units like kilometers (km) are used for measuring distances (e.g., between cities), while smaller units like millimeters (mm) are used for measuring very small objects.
  • Mass: Kilograms (kg) are used for heavy objects, while milligrams (mg) are used for tiny weights, like a grain of salt.
  • Volume: Liters (L) are used for liquids like water, while milliliters (mL) are used for small amounts of liquid (like a spoonful).

Learn with an example


______ centimetres = 5 metres

Find out how many centimetres are in 5 metres.
Multiply:

5 × 100 = 500

There are 500 centimetres in 5 metres.

500 centimetres = 5 metres

  • 8 centimetres
  • 78 millimetres
  • neither; they are equal

Find out how many millimetres are in 8 centimetres.
Multiply:

8 × 10 = 80

There are 80 millimetres in 8 centimetres.
80 is more than 78.
8 centimetres is more than 78 millimetres.

  • 50 millimetres
  • 5 centimetres
  • neither; they are equal

Find out how many millimetres are in 5 centimetres.
Multiply:

5 × 10 = 50

There are 50 millimetres in 5 centimetres.

50 millimetres is equal to 5 centimetres.

Let’s practice!🖊️