Understanding the metric system is easy if you know what base units means and what the prefixes are and how they are used. The metric system was designed to make measuring things easier and universal.
1
Know how the base units work. In the metric system, each form of measurement has one base unit. The most common base units are:
- length - meter (m)
- volume - liter (l)
- mass - gram (g)
2
Understand multiples of ten. The metric system is a decimal system, meaning every unit gets bigger or smaller by multiples of ten: Smaller measurements are divided by ten; larger measurements are multiplied by ten.
3
Learn the common prefixes. The common prefixes are milli-,centi-, deci-, deka-, hecto-, and kilo-. In the metric system, you look at the prefix to see the size of the unit, while the base unit tells you what is being measured. For instance, if you are measuring mass, the base is grams. If you want to know the size, then you look at the prefix. When the prefix kilo- is used, it means that the size is 1,000 time larger than the base. A kilogram is 1,000 times larger than the base of 1 gram.
4
Use the sentence “King Henry Doesn’t (Usually) Drink Chocolate Milk” to remember these prefixes. In this sentence, the first letter of each word represents a prefix while “Usually” represents unit or the base unit you are using. This sentence represents the prefixes in this order: kilo-, hecto-, deka-, unit, deci-, centi-, and milli-.
5
Draw a diagram to help you remember. Drawing a diagram will not only help you remember, but will help you to understand the relationships between prefixes and base units. Draw a horizontal line. Then, draw seven vertical lines across the horizontal line. Write the first letter of the prefixes above each vertical line: K, H, D, U, D, C, and M. Beneath the vertical line with “U,” write the first letter for the most common units: meters, liters, and grams.
Reference: http://www.wikihow.com
- length - meter (m)
- volume - liter (l)
- mass - gram (g)
2
Understand multiples of ten. The metric system is a decimal system, meaning every unit gets bigger or smaller by multiples of ten: Smaller measurements are divided by ten; larger measurements are multiplied by ten.
3
Learn the common prefixes. The common prefixes are milli-,centi-, deci-, deka-, hecto-, and kilo-. In the metric system, you look at the prefix to see the size of the unit, while the base unit tells you what is being measured. For instance, if you are measuring mass, the base is grams. If you want to know the size, then you look at the prefix. When the prefix kilo- is used, it means that the size is 1,000 time larger than the base. A kilogram is 1,000 times larger than the base of 1 gram.
4
Use the sentence “King Henry Doesn’t (Usually) Drink Chocolate Milk” to remember these prefixes. In this sentence, the first letter of each word represents a prefix while “Usually” represents unit or the base unit you are using. This sentence represents the prefixes in this order: kilo-, hecto-, deka-, unit, deci-, centi-, and milli-.
5
Draw a diagram to help you remember. Drawing a diagram will not only help you remember, but will help you to understand the relationships between prefixes and base units. Draw a horizontal line. Then, draw seven vertical lines across the horizontal line. Write the first letter of the prefixes above each vertical line: K, H, D, U, D, C, and M. Beneath the vertical line with “U,” write the first letter for the most common units: meters, liters, and grams.
Reference: http://www.wikihow.com
Is there an easy way to understand more the multiples of ten? How to convert smaller and larger measurement easily?
ReplyDeleteWhen we say multiples of ten it is moving a decimal point within a measurement if you're changing it's unit size. While regarding on the conversion of units, when you convert small unit to larger unit you must move your decimal point to the left, on the other hand when you convert larger unit to small unit you move your decimal point to the right.
DeleteMaam Christine, What is the logic behind in the diagram you show in number 5? Thank you po :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jolina! On the diagram above, prefixes to the left of the base unit represent larger numbers, and prefixes to the right of the base unit represent smaller numbers.
DeleteIs this only applicable in metric system?? How about English system??
ReplyDeleteHi Js! This piece of advice or useful information is applicable only for metric system even though the only difference between the two is he metric system uses prefixes to deal with large and small measurements, whereas the english system uses new units to deal with larger or smaller measurements.
DeleteNice blog Mam!
ReplyDeleteHi Luis! Thank you for the compliment. Do you have any questions? Your free to ask :)
DeleteHi Maam Vera! Is there any tips to remember diagrams aside from drawing it?
ReplyDeleteHi Alyssa! A handy trick for remembering the basic metric prefixes is the mnemonic "King Henry Died Until Drinking Chocolate Milk," (or, if you prefer, "King Henry Doesn't Usually Drink Chocolate Milk"). The first letter of each word corresponds to a basic metric prefix, in order of largest to smallest, except for the "U" in "Until", which corresponds to "unit," or the metric base units (meter, liter, etc.)
DeleteHello Ma'am Vera, mostly students always forgets the basic units. What is the possible cause of it, if there is a technique to remember it.
ReplyDeleteHi Katrina! In the same manner, it is easy to bear in mind those basic units with the use of Mnemonic such as "King Henry Died Until Drinking Chocolate Milk," (or, if you prefer, "King Henry Doesn't Usually Drink Chocolate Milk").
Delete