METRIC UNITS & MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH | MASS | VOLUME | TIME | TEMPERATURE
| DECIMALS in MEASUREMENT | |
| Prefixes for units of length, volume, and mass in the metric system | |
| Prefix | Multiply by |
| milli- | 0.001 (1/1000) |
| centi- | 0.01 (1/100) |
| deci- | 0.1 (1/10) |
| deka- | 10 |
| hecto- | 100 |
| kilo- | 1000 |
| LENGTH |
| The standard unit of length in the metric system is the meter |
| 1 millimeter = 0.001 meter |
| 1 centimeter = 0.01 meter |
| 1 decimeter = 0.1 meter |
| 1 kilometer = 1000 meters |
| Abbreviations |
| 1 millimeter = 1 mm |
| 1 centimeter = 1 cm |
| 1 meter = 1 m |
| 1 decimeter = 1 dm |
| 1 kilometer = 1 km |
| FOR REFERENCE: One meter is about half the height of a very tall adult. A centimeter is a little less than the diameter of a dime A millimeter is about the thickness of a dime. |
| MASS |
| The standard unit of mass in the metric system is the gram. |
| 1 milligram = 0.001 gram |
| 1 centigram = 0.01 gram |
| 1 decigram = 0.1 gram |
| 1 kilogram = 1000 grams |
| Abbreviations |
| 1 milligram = 1 mg |
| 1 centigram = 1 cg |
| 1 decigram = 1 dg |
| 1 gram = 1 g |
| 1 kilogram = 1 kg |
| FOR REFERENCE: A gram is about the mass of a paper clip. One kilogram is about the mass of a liter of water. |
| VOLUME |
| The standard unit of volume in the metric system is the liter. |
| 1 milliliter = 0.001 liter |
| 1 centiliter = 0.01 liter |
| 1 deciliter = 0.1 liter |
| 1 kiloliter = 1000 liters |
| Abbreviations |
| 1 milliliter = 1 ml |
| 1 centiliter = 1 cl |
| 1 deciliter = 1 dl |
| 1 liter = 1 l |
| 1 kiloliter = 1 kl |
| FOR REFERENCE: One liter = 1000 cubic centimeters in volume. One liter is slightly more than a quart. One teaspoon equals about 5 milliliters. |