Conversions in the Metric System

http://www.google.com/#q=metric+conversions&*

thank you ms sue

You're welcome.

The metric system is a decimal-based system of measurement used around the world. It uses a set of prefixes to denote different powers of 10, making conversions between units straightforward. To convert between units in the metric system, follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify the starting unit and its value.

Step 2: Determine the relationship between the starting unit and the desired unit by locating the appropriate prefix. The metric system uses prefixes such as kilo-, centi-, milli-, etc., to change the size of the unit. Each prefix represents a factor of 10.

Step 3: Move the decimal point to the left or right to convert the value to the desired unit. Moving the decimal point to the left increases the value, while moving it to the right decreases the value.

Step 4: Adjust the numerical value by scaling it up or down according to the conversion factor associated with the prefix. For example, if converting from centimeters to meters (1 meter = 100 centimeters), divide the value by 100. Conversely, if converting from meters to centimeters, multiply the value by 100.

Step 5: Write down the new value in the desired unit.

Let's go through an example conversion:

Question: Convert 500 grams to kilograms.

Step 1: Identify the starting unit and its value: 500 grams.

Step 2: Determine the relationship between grams and kilograms: 1 kilogram = 1000 grams.

Step 3: Move the decimal point three places to the left (since there are three zeros in the conversion factor): 500 grams = 0.500 kilograms.

Step 4: Adjust the numerical value by scaling it up or down: Since the conversion factor is to divide by 1000 (from grams to kilograms), divide 0.500 by 1000.

Step 5: Write down the new value in the desired unit: 500 grams = 0.500 kilograms.

Remember to always double-check your conversions and use the correct conversion factors for accurate results.