METRIC CONVERSIONS:
How to CONVERT between METRIC UNITS?
6 Easy Steps:
- Memorize the ORDER of METRIC PREFIXES
- Identify your GIVEN metric unit.
- Identify the metric unit being ASKED.
- Determine the DIRECTION to go from the GIVEN metric unit to the ASKED metric unit.
- Count the SPACES BETWEEN the GIVEN unit to the ASKED unit.
- Move decimal SAME NUMBER of SPACES and in the SAME DIRECTION, adding in zero’s.
Use this pneumonic (the first letter of each word in the phrase matches the first letter of each metric PREFIX!)
King Henry Died By drinking chocolate milk
kilo hecto Deka basic* deci centi milli
* basic=basic unit
Step 2: Identify your GIVEN metric unit.
For example: Convert 892 km into cm.
Your GIVEN metric unit is 892 km because the problem gives you the number (quantity) and the unit.
Step 3: Identify the metric unit being ASKED.
Same example: Convert 892 km into cm.
The metric unit being asked is cm because you are being asked for the number quantity in cm.
Step 4: Determine the DIRECTION to go from the GIVEN metric unit to the ASKED metric unit.
King Henry Died By drinking chocolate milk
kilo hecto Deka basic* deci centi milli
* basic=basic unit
GIVEN
ASKED
ASKED
Same example: Convert 892 km into cm.
From GIVEN to ASKED is in the
DIRECTION TO THE RIGHT
Step 5: Count the SPACES BETWEEN the GIVEN unit to the ASKED unit.
King Henry Died By drinking chocolate milk
1 2 3 4 5
kilo hecto Deka basic* deci centi milli
GIVEN * basic=basic unit ASKED
Same example: Convert 892 km into cm.
From GIVEN to ASKED is 5 SPACES
TO THE RIGHT
Step 6: Move decimal SAME NUMBER of SPACES and in the SAME DIRECTION, adding in zero’s.
Same example: Convert 892 km into cm.
From GIVEN to ASKED is
5 SPACES TO THE RIGHT
892km=
892.0.0.0.0.0.cm=
1 2 3 4 5
89,200,000.cm
892.0.0.0.0.0.cm=
1 2 3 4 5
89,200,000.cm
The GIVEN decimal moves 5 SPACES TO THE RIGHT.
Example: Convert 892 km into cm.
Final answer is 89,200,000. cm
