Metric Units
The metric units for length that are commonly used are:
| Kilometres | km |
| Metres | m |
| Centimetres | cm |
| Millimetres | mm |
The metric units for mass that are commonly used are:
| Tonne | t |
| Kilogram | kg |
| Gram | g |
| Milligram | mg |
The metric units for capacity that are commonly used are:
| Litres | l |
| Centilitres | cl |
| Millilitres | ml |
Equivalences between metric units
| Length | Mass | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 km = 1000 m | 1 t = 1000 kg | 1 l = 1000 ml |
| 1 m = 100 cm | 1 kg = 1000 g | 1 l = 100 cl |
| 1 cm = 10 mm | 1 g = 1000 mg | 1 cl = 10 ml |
Converting between metric units
Length
For length follow the diagram:
Example
Change 3 m into cm.
To change from metres to centimetres multiply by 100:
3 脳 100 = 300
3 m = 300 cm
Example
Change 1.3 km into m.
To change from kilometres into metres multiply by 1000:
1.3 脳 1000 = 1300
1.3 km = 1300 m
Example
Change 274 mm into m.
In this case two steps are needed to change between units.
To change from millimetres into metres divide by 10 and then divide by 100:
274 梅 10 = 27.4
27.4 梅 100 = 0.274
274 mm = 27.4 cm = 0.274 m
Question
Change 120 cm into m.
120 梅 100 = 1.2
120 cm = 1.2 m
Question
Change 120 cm into mm.
120 脳 10 = 1200
120 cm = 1200 mm
Question
Find the remaining length, when 45 cm is cut off a plank of wood of length 2.1 m. Give your answer in cm.
2.1 m = 210 cm
210 鈥 45 = 165 cm
Mass
For mass follow the diagram:
Example
Change 0.45 kg into g.
To change from kilograms to grams multiply by 1000:
0.45 脳 1000 = 450
0.45 kg = 450 g
Example
Change 325 g into kg.
To change from kilograms to grams divide by 1000:
325 梅 1000 = 0.325
325 g = 0.325 kg
Question
Change 1.5 tonnes into kg.
1.5 脳 1000 = 1500
1.5 tonnes = 1500 kg
Question
Change 6250 g into kg.
6250 梅 1000 = 6.25
6250 g = 6.25 kg
Capacity
For capacity follow the diagram:
Example
Change 7.5 l into ml.
To change from litres into millilitres multiply by 1000:
7.5 脳 1000 = 7500
7.5 l = 7500 ml
Example
Change 56 cl into l.
To change from centilitres into litres divide by 100:
56 梅 100 = 0.56
56 cl = 0.56 l
Question
Change 3240 ml into l.
3240 梅 1000 = 3.24
3240 ml = 3.24 l
Question
Leah pours two 5 ml teaspoons of medicine from a bottle containing 60 cl. How much medicine is left in the bottle?
60 cl = 600 ml
2 脳 5 ml = 10 ml
600 ml 鈥 10 ml = 590 ml
Test yourself
More on M1: Geometry and measures
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