Metric Conversions
Ladder Method
T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net/
International System of Units (SI)
System used by all scientists around the world to share
precise data in a format that is understood by all
What do we measure and
what do we measure it in?
• Length – measured in meters (m)
• Volume (how much space something takes up) –
measured in – Liters (if liquid) (L)
– Cubic meter units (if solid) m3
Scale based on units of 10
K
1000
H
100
10 times smaller each step
DA
10
D
0.1
C
0.01
10 times larger each step
M
0.001
King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk
Ladder Method- Length
1
2
KILO
1000
Units
3
HECTO
100
Units
km
hm
DEKA
10
Units
10 times smaller each step
DECI
0.1
Unit
dam
m
CENTI
0.01
Unit
dm
cm
10 times larger each step
mm
4 km = _________ m
How do you use the “ladder” method?
1st – Determine your starting point.
2nd – Count the “jumps” to your ending point.
3rd – Move the decimal the same number of
jumps in the same direction.
MILLI
0.001
Unit
Starting Point
Ending Point
How many jumps does it take?
4. __. __. __. = 4000 m
1
2
3
Ladder Method- Length
KILO
1000
Units
HECTO
100
Units
km
hm
DEKA
10
Units
10 times smaller each step
DECI
0.1
Unit
dam
m
CENTI
0.01
Unit
dm
10 times larger each step
MILLI
0.001
Unit
cm
mm
400
0.04 hm = _________
cm
0.5004 hm
5004 cm = _________
700,000 dm
70 km = _________
0.720 m
720 mm = _________
Conversion Practice
k
h
da
m
L
d
c
m
Try these conversions using the ladder method.
1,000,000 m
1000 km = _______
1,000 mL
1 L = _______
160 dam = 1,600,000
_______ mm
1,400,000 cm
14 km = _______
1,090 mm
109 cm = _______
250 L = 250,000
_______ ml
Compare using <, >, or =.
56 cm
6m
600 cm
7L
KHDBDCM
Metric Rap
698 ml
.698 L
Metric Conversion Challenge
Write the correct abbreviation for each metric unit.
1) Hectometer ____
4) milliliter _____
7) kilometer _____
2) meter _____
5) millimeter _____
8) centimeter _____
3) deciliter _____
6) liter _____
9) dekameter _____
Try these conversions, using the ladder method.
10) 2000 ml = _______ L
15) 5 L = _______ mL
20) 16 cm = _______ mm
11) 104 km = _______ m
16) 198 m = _______ mm
21) 2500 m = _______ km
12) 480 cm = _____ m
17) 75 mL = _____ L
22) 65 m = _____ mm
13) 5.6 km = _____ m
18) 50 cm = _____ m
23) 6.3 cm = _____ dam
14) 8 mm = _____ dm
19) 5.6 m = _____ cm
24) 120 ml = _____ L
Compare using <, >, or =.
25) 63 cm
26) 536 cm
6m
53.6 dm
27) 5 L
28) 43 mm
508 ml
5m
29) 1,500 mL
30) 3.6 m
1.5 L
36 cm