8.2+Metric+Measurement

Section 8.2 - Metric Measurement
The Metric system of measurement mostly uses different units to measure things than the US system, but the way those units relate to each other is also different - far easier than the US system because everything is a power of ten. To go from one unit to the next, just multiply by 10.

So, the key to understanding the Metric system is to know what the base words mean (what they measure) and which prefix matches up with which power of ten.


 * Metric Base Units**

In the US system, what would the base unit be for measuring volume? Gallons? Quarts?

In the Metric system there is only one unit that is clearly the base for each type of measurement.

Length - Meter Volume - Liter Weight - Gram


 * Metric Prefixes**

The Metric system uses prefixes to describe measurement units that are larger or smaller than the base units listed above. The prefixes are the same for each base.

Note: Some of the prefixes are listed below. The prefixes in bold type are the more common (important) prefixes.


 * || **Prefix** || **Length** || **Volume** || **Weight** ||
 * x1,000,000,000 || giga- ||  ||   ||   ||
 * x1,000,000 || mega- ||  ||   ||   ||
 * x1000 || **kilo-** || **kilomete**r || kiloliter || **kilogram** ||
 * x100 || hecto- || hectometer || hectoliter || hectogram ||
 * x10 || deka- || dekameter || dekaliter || dekagram ||
 * **Base** ||  || **Meter** || **Liter** || **Gram** ||
 * /10 || deci- || decimeter || deciliter || decigram ||
 * /100 || **centi-** || **centimeter** || centiliter || centigram ||
 * /1000 || **milli-** || **millimeter** || **milliliter** || **milligram** ||
 * /1,000,000 || nano- ||  ||   ||   ||
 * /1,000,000,000 || pico- ||  ||   ||   ||


 * Converting between Metric Units**

Although you can use either of methods for converting described in the previous section, It makes sense to use the first method with metric measurements simply because it is so easy to multiply or divide by a power of ten just by adding zeroes or moving the decimal point. Remember the advice, however, that if you are moving to a larger unit, the number will be smaller, and if you are "breaking down" a larger unit into smaller units (like kilometers to meters), you will have a much higher number.

4.5 kilometers = 4,500 meters = 4,500,000 millimeters


 * Chapter Eight Practice Problems**

**Where to from here?**
8.1 US Measurement 8.2 Metric Measurement 8.3 US to Metric Chapter Eight Summary Chapter Eight Homework