4'8 Changing Metric Units

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4.8 Changing Metric Units

• Standards 6.D.3, 7.B.3, 7.C.3b, 10.A.3b

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Changing Units Using Multiplication and Division
You can change from one unit to another in the
metric system by multiplying or dividing by a
power of ten.
Change to a smaller unit by multiplying.
kilo- hecto- deka- base unit (m, g, L)
deci- centi- milli-
Change to a larger unit by dividing.
There are sayings to help you remember the above
order of units. Use whatever saying you remember
best!
1. Kids Have Dreams But Dreams Cost Money
2. King Henry Dances But Doesnt Cha-cha Much
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Examples
Change 0.64 L to milliliters.
So, now I move 3 decimal places to the right in
my answer.
Start with what you know!
0.64 L _____ mL
0.64 L becomes 640 mL
kilo- hecto- deka- base unit (m, g, L)
deci- centi- milli-
0.64
I need to go to milliliters, so I move 3 places
to the right.
I start at what I know, which is liters.
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More Examples!
Change 23.6 g to kilograms.
23.6 g _______ kg
So, now I move 3 decimal places to the left in my
answer.
23.6 g becomes .0236 kg
kilo hecto- deka- base unit (m, g, L)
deci- centi- milli-
23.6 g
I start at what I know, grams.
I need to go to kg, so I move to the left 3
places.
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More Examples!
Change 360 centimeters to meters.
360 cm ______ m
So, now I move 2 decimal places to the left in my
answer.
360 cm becomes 3.6 meters
kilo hecto- deka- base unit (m, g, L)
deci- centi- milli-
360 cm
I start with what I know, centimeters.
I need to go to meters, so I move 2 places to the
left.
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More Examples!
Change 20 centimeters to millimeters.
20 cm ______ mm
So, now I move 1 decimal place to the right in my
answer.
20 cm becomes 200 mm
kilo hecto- deka- base unit (m, g, L)
deci- centi- milli-
20 cm
I start with what I know, centimeters.
I need to go to millimeters, so I move 1 place to
the right.
Remember The decimal is at the end of a whole
number.
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Now You Try!
kilo hecto- deka- base unit (m, g, L)
deci- centi- milli-
647 mm _____ cm
64.7 cm
26 kg _____ g
26,000 g
0.017g _____ mg
17 mg
8g _____ kg
0.008 kg