What is a metric prefix for kids?

A prefix is a part of a word that is added to the beginning of another word. In the metric system the prefixes are added to the basic units. For example, the kilo- prefix means “thousand” and the milli- prefix means “1/1,000” for each unit. So a milligram equals 1/1,000 of a gram, and a kiloliter equals 1,000 liters.

How do you convert metric to metric?

Metric units of measurement differ by powers of 10 – 10, 100, 1,000, and so on. Thus, converting from one metric unit to another is always accomplished by multiplying or dividing your initial measurement by the appropriate power of ten.

How do you convert metric units?

To convert from one unit to another within the metric system usually means moving a decimal point. If you can remember what the prefixes mean, you can convert within the metric system relatively easily by simply multiplying or dividing the number by the value of the prefix.

What are the 7 metric prefixes?

In the SI, designations of multiples and subdivision of any unit may be arrived at by combining with the name of the unit the prefixes deka, hecto, and kilo meaning, respectively, 10, 100, and 1000, and deci, centi, and milli, meaning, respectively, one-tenth, one-hundredth, and one-thousandth.

What do metric prefixes mean?

A metric prefix is a unit prefix that precedes a basic unit of measure to indicate a multiple or submultiple of the unit. The prefix kilo-, for example, may be added to gram to indicate multiplication by one thousand: one kilogram is equal to one thousand grams.

What are some examples of metric measurements?

The metric system has meter, centimeter, millimeter, and kilometer for length; kilograms and gram for weight; liter and milliliter for capacity; hours, minutes, seconds for time.

How do you convert measurements?

To convert a smaller unit to a larger unit (eg to ), divide it by the number of smaller units which are needed to make. To convert from a larger unit to a smaller one, multiply. To convert from a smaller unit to a larger one, divide.

How do you convert units easily?

Summary: You can convert units easily and accurately with one simple rule: just multiply the old measurement by a carefully chosen form of the number 1.