Metric & Customary Conversion • Topic 1 of 2

Converting Metric Units

The Metric System

The metric system is based on powers of 10 — it's easy to convert!

Metric Length Conversions:

Unit	Abbreviation	Relation
Kilometer	km	1 km = 1000 m
Meter	m	1 m = 100 cm
Centimeter	cm	1 cm = 10 mm
Millimeter	mm	smallest unit

Metric Mass (Weight) Conversions:

Unit	Abbreviation	Relation
Kilogram	kg	1 kg = 1000 g
Gram	g	1 g = 1000 mg

Metric Capacity (Volume) Conversions:

Unit	Abbreviation	Relation
Liter	L	1 L = 1000 mL
Milliliter	mL	smallest

Conversion Rule:

Large → Small: Multiply (×)
Small → Large: Divide (÷)

METRIC CONVERSION STAIRCASE (Length):

                    km
                     ↑  ×1000
                     │  ÷1000
                    m
                     ↑  ×100
                     │  ÷100
                    cm
                     ↑  ×10
                     │  ÷10
                    mm


EXAMPLES ON THE STAIRCASE:

    0.25 km ──×1000──→ 250 m
    250 m   ──÷1000──→ 0.25 km
    
    3.5 m   ──×100──→ 350 cm
    350 cm  ──÷100──→ 3.5 m
    
    45 cm   ──×10──→ 450 mm
    450 mm  ──÷10──→ 45 cm


METRIC CONVERSION TABLE:

    To convert:           Multiply by:
    km → m                1000
    m → km                0.001
    m → cm                100
    cm → m                0.01
    cm → mm               10
    mm → cm               0.1
    kg → g                1000
    g → kg                0.001
    L → mL                1000
    mL → L                0.001

Solved Examples

Worked Example

Convert 0.25 km to meters

Solution

km → m: multiply by 1000
0.25 × 1000 = 250
Answer: 250 m

Worked Example

Convert 450 cm to meters

Solution

cm → m: divide by 100 (or multiply by 0.01)
450 ÷ 100 = 4.5
Answer: 4.5 m

Worked Example

Convert 2.5 kg to grams

Solution

kg → g: multiply by 1000
2.5 × 1000 = 2500
Answer: 2500 g

Worked Example

Convert 3000 mL to liters

Solution

mL → L: divide by 1000
3000 ÷ 1000 = 3
Answer: 3 L

Key Points

Large unit → Small unit: MULTIPLY
Small unit → Large unit: DIVIDE
Metric is base 10 (move decimal point!)
King Henry Died Unexpectedly Drinking Chocolate Milk (Kilo, Hecto, Deka, Unit, Deci, Centi, Milli)

Quick Check — 4 MCQs

Tap an option to check your answer0 / 4

Q1.$1$ metre equals:

Explanation: $100$ cm.

Q2.$1$ kilometre equals:

Explanation: $1000$ m.

Q3.$1$ kilogram equals:

Explanation: $1000$ g.

Q4.$1$ litre equals:

Explanation: $1000$ mL.

Practice more MCQs → 📝 Assignment · 35 marks