The Metric System Page 3
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13Objective
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Prefixes in the Metric System
The metric system is a base 10 system. This means that each successive unit is 10
times larger than the previous one.
The names of metric units are formed by adding a prefix to the basic unit of
measurement. To tell how large or small a unit is, you look at the prefix. To tell whether
the unit is measuring length, mass, or volume, you look at the base.
Prefixes in the Metric System
meter
kilo-
hecto-
deka-
gram
deci-
centi-
milli-
liter
10 times
100 times
1,000 times
1,000 times
100 times
10 times
base
smaller
smaller
smaller
larger than
larger than
larger than
units
than base
than base
than base
base unit
base unit
base unit
unit
unit
unit
Using this table as a reference, you can see the following:
•
A kilogram is 1,000 times larger than one gram (so 1 kilogram = 1,000 grams).
•
A centimeter is 100 times smaller than one meter (so 1 meter = 100 centimeters).
•
A dekaliter is 10 times larger than one liter (so 1 dekaliter = 10 liters).
Here is a similar table that just shows the metric units of measurement for mass, along
with their size relative to 1 gram (the base unit). The common abbreviations for these
metric units have been included as well.
Measuring Mass in the Metric System
kilogram
hectogram
dekagram
gram
decigram
centigram
milligram
(kg)
(hg)
(dag)
(g)
(dg)
(cg)
(mg)
1,000
100 grams
10 grams
gram
0.1 gram
0.01 gram
0.001 gram
grams
Since the prefixes remain constant through the metric system, you could create similar
charts for length and volume. The prefixes have the same meanings whether they are
attached to the units of length (meter), mass (gram), or volume (liter).
Self Check A
Which of the following sets of three units are all metric measurements of length?
A) inch, foot, yard
B) kilometer, centimeter, millimeter
C) kilogram, gram, centigram
D) kilometer, foot, decimeter
4.59
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