The Metric System Page 6
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13Factor Label Method
There is yet another method that you can use to convert metric measurements—the
factor label method. You used this method when you were converting measurement
units within the U.S. customary system.
The factor label method works the same in the metric system; it relies on the use of unit
fractions and the cancelling of intermediate units. The table below shows some of the
unit equivalents and unit fractions for length in the metric system. (You should notice
that all of the unit fractions contain a factor of 10. Remember that the metric system is
based on the notion that each unit is 10 times larger than the one that came before it.)
Also, notice that two new prefixes have been added here: mega- (which is very big) and
micro- (which is very small).
Conversion Factors
Unit Equivalents
µ
1
m
1,000,000
m
1 meter = 1,000,000 micrometers
µ
1,000,000
m
1
m
1
m
1,000
mm
1 meter = 1,000 millimeters
1,000
mm
1
m
1
m
100
cm
1 meter = 100 centimeters
100
cm
1
m
1
m
10
dm
1 meter = 10 decimeters
10
dm
1
m
1
dam
10
m
1 dekameter = 10 meters
10
m
1
dam
1
hm
100
m
1 hectometer = 100 meters
100
m
1
hm
1
km
1,000
m
1 kilometer = 1,000 meters
1,000
m
1
km
1
Mm
1,000,000
m
1 megameter = 1,000,000 meters
1,000,000
m
1
Mm
When applying the factor label method in the metric system, be sure to check that you
are not skipping over any intermediate units of measurement!
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