The metric system is primarily a system used for measuring length, volume, distance, temperature, and weight. It relies on the three basic units through which anything in the world can be measured.
The metric system of measurement was introduced in the year 1799. Over several years, this system has been lengthened to integrate many units. Although, numerous variants of this system originated in the late 19th and early 20th century. The term metric system is another word for SI or the International systems of India.
The standard International System of Units ( SI Units) provides an accurate definition for meter, kilograms, and the seconds. It also describes and states four different additional units such as:
Metric number prefixes can be used to measure very small or big things. For example- Kilo and Milli.
Here are some of the common metric conversion units that are based on the Kilogram, meters and seconds.
Quantity | Name of units | Symbol | Value |
Length | Millimeter | mm | 10mm = 1cm |
Centimeter | cm | 100cm = 1m | |
Meter | m | 1000m = 1km | |
Kilometer | km | ||
Mass | Milligram | mg | 1000mg = 1g |
Gram | g | 1000g = 1kg | |
Kilogram | kg | 1000kg = 1t | |
Tonne | t | ||
Time | Second | s | 60s = 1min |
Minute | min | 60min = 1h | |
Hour | h | 24h = 1day | |
Day | day | ||
Temperature | Degree Celsius | ||
Volume | Cubic millimeters | mm³ | 1 cm³ = 1000m³ |
Cubic centimetres | cm³ | 1m³ = 1,000,000 cm³ | |
Cubic metres | m³ | ||
Area | Square millimeters | mm2 | 1 cm2 = 100 mm2 |
Square centimeters | cm2 | 1 m2 = 10,000 cm2 | |
Square metres | m2 | 1 ha2 = 10,000 m2 | |
Capacity | Milliliter | ml | 1000 ml = 1 L |
Litre | l | 1000 L = 1kL | |
Kiloliter | kl |
Units mentioned in bold are standard units
Here, you learn metric system conversion of smaller to bigger units and bigger to smaller units.
The conversion of a smaller unit to a bigger unit is similar to the conversion method of a bigger unit to a smaller unit. While converting a bigger unit to a smaller unit, ,you move the decimal point to the right side which implies that you multiply the factor but when you convert a smaller unit to a bigger one, you move the decimal point to the left side which implies that you divide the factors.
Solved Example for Metric Conversion of Bigger Unit to the Smaller Unit
Solution: As, we are converting a bigger unit to a smaller unit, we will multiply by the factor and move the decimal point to the right
Accordingly,
10.20 kg x 1000 = 10200 g
Solved Example for Metric Conversion of a Smaller Unit to a Bigger Unit
Solution: As,we are converting a smaller unit to a bigger unit, we will divide by the factor and move the decimal point to the left side
Accordingly,
730 cg ÷ 100 = 7.30 g
Here is a metric system conversion table which helps you to solve the questions based on metric system conversion
Solved Example
Solution: To convert kilometers to meters, we will jump 3 times from kilometers to reach the meters
Accordingly, we will multiply by 10³ = 1000
So, 4km = 4 x 1000= 4000 metres
Solution: As we know, one gram is 1000 times larger than a milligram. Accordingly,
1 gram = 1000 mg
And,
1 mg = 1/1000 gms
6250 mg= 6250/1000 gms
Hence, 6250 = 6.250 gms
1. What is 0.005 ml?
2. 20 gram is similar to
3. A cubic centimeter is used to measure
4. Convert 560 mg to g
5. Which is a base unit in the metric system?