1 5 Measuring in Metric Units Youll Learn

1 -5 Measuring in Metric Units You’ll Learn: To use and convert metric units of measure.

Metric Units Type Unit Reference Example Length Millimeter (mm) Centimeter (cm) Meter (m) Kilometer (km) About Capacity Milliliter (m. L) Liter (L) A small spoon holds about 5 m. L A little more than 1 quart Mass Milligram (mg) Gram (g) Kilogram (kg) About the mass of a mosquito About the mass of a paper clip About the mass of a bunch of bananas the the thickness of a dime width of your little finger distance from a doorknob to the floor length of 11 football fields

Metric Length Relationships Unit Kilometer Hectometer Decameter Decimeter Centimeter Millimeter Symbol km hm dam m dm cm mm Value 100 m 1 m 0. 001 m 1, 000 m

Choosing a Reasonable Estimate � When trying to measure using the metric system, it is important to estimate so that you can accurately choose a tool to measure. � Choose a reasonable estimate: ◦ Height of a classroom � 3 cm 3 m � 2. 3 mg 2. 3 g ◦ Mass of a bag of flour 3 km 2. 3 kg

Choose a reasonable estimate and explain your choice. � Capacity/Volume ◦ 180 m. L � Mass of a soup bowl: 180 L of a Butterfly: ◦ 500 mg � Height ◦ 22 cm 500 g of an oak tree: 22 m 180 k. L 500 kg 22 km

Multiplying to Change Units � You can change a measurement from one unit to another by finding the relationship between the two units and multiplying.

Metric Relationships Unit Kilometer Hectometer Decameter Decimeter Centimeter Millimeter Symbol km hm dam m dm cm mm Value 100 m 1 m 0. 001 m 1, 000 m Milli-liter Unit Symbol L m. L Value 0. 001 L Unit liter 1 L Kilogram Milligram Symbol kg g mg Value 1 g 0. 001 g 1, 000 g

Step 1 � Decide if the conversion you are trying to do is going from a larger unit to a smaller unit or from a small unit to a larger unit. ◦ m. L to L ◦ km to m ◦ cm to m

Step 2 � Decide how many of the missing unit fits into the known unit. ◦ 245 m. L = _____ L � 1 m. L = 0. 001 L � Hint: ◦ If you are going from big to small, your missing unit value should be a WHOLE number. ◦ If you are going from small to big, your missing unit value should be a DECIMAL. �m. L is smaller than L �Small to Big We use a decimal.

Step 3 � Once you decide your relationship, multiply by the missing value. ◦ 245 x 0. 001 = 0. 245 L

Put it all together! � Change 245 milliliters to liters. ◦ 245 m. L = ____L o 1 m. L = 0. 001 L o 245 x 0. 001 = 0. 245 o Check for Reasonableness: o A milliliter is less than a liter. So, the number of liters should be less than the number of milliliters. 0. 245 < 245, so the answer is reasonable.