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3rd level

How to convert between standard units of measurementUnderstanding metric units

Solving calculations of length, mass and capacity might involve converting between standard units. Understanding what kilo-, centi- and milli- mean will help you decide which number to multiply or divide by.

Part of MathsMeasurement

Understanding metric units

The metric system uses three main units for measuring:

metres
grams
litres

Other units are based on these basic units but have a prefix in front. The prefix tells you how much bigger or smaller the unit is:

kilo- means \(\times 1,000\)
centi- means \(\div 100\)
milli- means \(\div 1,000\)

The table shows some of the most common units and their equivalents. Make sure you know these conversions.

Converting measurements
Length	\({1}~{km} = {1,000}~{m}\)	\({1}~{m} = {100}~{cm}\)	\({1}~{cm} = {10}~{mm}\)
Weight	\({1~tonne} = {1,000}~{kg}\)	\({1}~{kg} = {1,000}~{g}\)	\({1}~{g} = {1,000}~{mg}\)
Capacity	\({1}~{l} = {100}~{cl}\)	\({1}~{cl} = {10}~{ml}\)	\({1}~{l} = {1,000}~{ml}\)

Converting measurements

Length
\({1}~{km} = {1,000}~{m}\)
\({1}~{m} = {100}~{cm}\)
\({1}~{cm} = {10}~{mm}\)

Weight
\({1~tonne} = {1,000}~{kg}\)
\({1}~{kg} = {1,000}~{g}\)
\({1}~{g} = {1,000}~{mg}\)

Capacity
\({1}~{l} = {100}~{cl}\)
\({1}~{cl} = {10}~{ml}\)
\({1}~{l} = {1,000}~{ml}\)

Converting between units

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