MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
The common form of measurement used by scientists around the world is the International System of
Units (SI). These units are easy to use because they are based on multiples of 10. The table lists the
prefixes of the most frequent SI units.
PREFIX
SYMBOL
Kilo
hecto
deka
deci
centi
mili
MEANING
K
h
da
d
c
m
1,000
100
10
.1 (One tenth)
.01(one hundredth)
.001 (One thousandth)
EQUIVALENCES
A. LENGTH
1 meter = 1,000 mm
1 meter = 10 cm
1 meter = decímetros
1 centímeter = 10 mm
1 mile = 1.6 km
1 mile= 5,280 feet
1 foot = 12 inches
B. MASS
C. VOLUME
1 gram = 1,000 mg
1 kilogram = 1,000 g
1 Kilogram = 2.2 lbs
1 pound = 453.5 g
1 liter = 1,000 ml
1 gallon = 4 quarts
TO CONVERT UNITS
/ by F
LESSER UNIT
LARGER UNIT
X por F
F = conversión unit
1- Look for the conversion factor
Ex: Convert 80 cm to meters
80 cm
1m
=8m
2- Write factor as fraction
100 cm