Metric Conversions
Ladder Method
T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net/
. Why Metric
1
A.Metric is easy because it’s
based on POWERS OF 10!
B.Our system (the English
system) is all over the place
C.All scientists use metric
2. WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?
A.Our base units
1.Mass (gram == g)
2.Length (meter == m)
3.Volume (liter == L)
UNITS OF MEASURE
• What metric unit measures…
• length?
• Meter
• volume?
• Liter
• mass/weight?
• Gram
• Volume of a solid
• cm3
B.Our BIGGER prefixes
1.Kilo (k) – 1000 x base
2.Hecto (h) –100 x base
3.Deca (da) –10 x base
C.Our SMALLER prefixes
1.Deci (d)—1/10 x base
2.Centi (c) –1/100 x base
3.Milli (m) –1/1000 x base
Abbreviations






Kilometers-km.
Hectometers –hm.
Dekameters- dam.
Decimeters- dm.
Centimeters- cm.
Millimeters- mm.






Kilograms-kg.
Hectograms –hg.
Dekagrams- dg.
Decigrams- dg.
Centigrams- cg.
Milligrams- mg.
Kiloliters-kL.
Hectoliters –hL.
Dekaliters- daL.
Decileters- dL.
Centiliters- cL.
Milliliters- mL.
3. How do I remember this?







KING
HENRY
DIED
BY
DRINKING
CHOCOLATE
MILK
Conversion Practice
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
Compare using <, >, or =.
56 cm
6m
7g
698 mg
Metric Conversion Challenge
Write 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 _____
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
Compare using <, >, or =.
25) 63 cm
26) 536 cm
6m
53.6 dm
27) 5 g
28) 43 mg
508 mg
5g
29) 1,500 mL
30) 3.6 m
1.5 L
36 cm
Check your answers!
Try these conversions,
using the ladder method.
Conversion Challenge
Abbreviations:
1. kg
2. m
3. g
4. mL
5. mm
6. L
7. km
8. cm
9. Mg
1. 2 g
2. 104000 m
3. 4.8 m
4. 5600 g
5. .8 cm
6. 5000 ml
7. 0.198 kg
8. 0.075 l
9. 0.5 m
10. 560 cm
11. 160 mm
12. 2.5 km
13. 65000 mg
14. 63 mm
15. 0.12 g
16. <
17. >
18. =
19. =
20. <
21. >
Scientific Notation
 A way to express very small or very large numbers
 Example:

12345 = 1.2345 x 104
____________ – the # of
times the decimal was
moved
__________ – must
be between 1 and 9

_________
0.00456 = 4.56 x 10-3
(+) to the left
(-) to the right
Scientific Notation
 56934
=
 1280 =
 0.0345
=
 0.0000037 =
Scientific Notation
 2.347 x 10-3 =
 8.98736 x
104
Reverse it!
=
 3.48763 x 10-4 =
 5.7654 x 105 =
(+) right
(-) left
BELL WORK
 With
your partner, come up with 5
examples of metrics in everyday life.
 Compile
the list in the “Notes” section
of your binder.
 Be
prepared to share with the class
Some Examples of Metrics