How to Solve Conversions in the Metric System

You might have learned how to use the metric system in school, but unless you make metric conversions and measurements often, it can be easy to forget how to calculate and convert between metric units. The metric system employs units of measurement that neatly convert into each other as factors of 10. Learning how to convert between metric units can be a useful skill to develop if you plan to travel to countries that use the metric system or if you come into contact with metric units in your daily life and work.

Instructions

Understanding Metric Basics

1

Learn how metric units fit into each other. Metric units divide and multiply into each other in powers of 10. Converting between metric units is often a matter of multiplying or dividing by 10, 100 or 1,000.

2

Become familiar with metric units and the value of each unit. Learn how long a meter is, how heavy a milligram is, and much one liter of liquid is.

3

Learn the correct equations to convert between metric units. Keep a list of conversion equations and try to memorize them.

Linear Measurements

4

Understand how millimeters, centimeters, meters and kilometers relate to each other. There are 10 millimeters in a centimeter, 100 centimeters in a meter and 1,000 meters in a kilometer.

5

Convert millimeters into centimeters using the equation (millimeters / 10 = centimeters). If there are 310 millimeters, the equation would be (310 mm / 10 = 31 cm).

6

Convert millimeters into meters using the equation (millimeters / 1,000 = meters). If there are 310 millimeters, the equation would be (310 mm / 1,000 = 0.31 m).

7

Convert millimeters into kilometers using the equation (millimeters / 1,000,000 = kilometers). If there are 310 millimeters, the equation would be (310 mm / 1,000,000 = 0.00031 km).

8

Convert centimeters into millimeters using the equation (centimeters x 10 = millimeters). If there are 31 centimeters, the equation would be (31 cm x 10 = 310 mm).

9

Convert centimeters into meters using the equation (centimeters / 100 = meters). If there are 31 centimeters, the equation would be (31 cm / 100 = .31 m).

10

Convert centimeters into kilometers using the equation (centimeters / 100,000 = kilometers). If there are 31 centimeters, the equation would be (31 cm / 100,000 = 0.00031 km).

11

Convert meters into millimeters using the equation (meters x 1,000 = millimeters). If there are 5 meters, the equation would be (5 m x 1,000 = 5,000 mm).

12

Convert meters into centimeters using the equation (meters x 100 = centimeters). If there are 5 meters, the equation would be (5 m x 100 = 500 cm).

13

Convert meters into kilometers using the equation (meters / 1,000 = kilometers). If there are 5 meters, the equation would be (5 m / 1,000 = 0.005 km).

14

Convert kilometers into millimeters using the equation (kilometers x 1,000,000 = millimeters). If there are 2.5 kilometers, the equation would be (2.5 km x 1,000,000 = 2,500,000 mm).

15

Convert kilometers into centimeters using the equation (kilometers x 100,000 = centimeters). If there are 2.5 kilometers, the equation would be (2.5 km x 100,000 = 250,000 cm).

16

Convert kilometers into meters using the equation (kilometers x 1,000 = meters). If there are 2.5 kilometers, the equation would be (2.5 km x 1,000 = 2,500 meters).

Volume Measurements

17

Understand how milliliters and liters relate to each other. There are 1,000 milliliters in a liter and 0.001 liters in a milliliter.

18

Convert milliliters into liters using the equation (milliliters / 1,000 = liters). If there are 250 milliliters, the equation would be (250 ml / 1,000 = 0.25 l).

19

Convert liters into milliliters using the equation (liters x 1,000 = milliliters). If there are 2.3 liters, the equation would be (2.3 l x 1,000 = 2,300 ml).

Mass Measurements

20

Understand how milligrams, grams and kilograms relate to each other. There are 1,000 milligrams in a gram, 1,000 grams in a kilogram and 1,000,000 milligrams in a kilogram.

21

Convert milligrams into grams using the equation (milligrams / 1,000 = grams). If there are 363 milligrams, the equation would be (363 mg / 1,000 = 0.363 g).

22

Convert milligrams into kilograms using the equation (milligrams / 1,000,000 = kilograms). If there are 353 milligrams, the equation would be (363 mg / 1,000,000 = 0.000363 kg).

23

Convert grams into milligrams using the equation (grams x 1,000 = milligrams). If there are 24 grams, the equation would be (24 g x 1,000 = 24,000 mg).

24

Convert grams into kilograms using the equation (grams / 1,000 = kilograms). If there are 24 grams, the equation would be (24 g / 1,000 = 0.024 kg).

25

Convert kilograms into milligrams using the equation (kilograms x 1,000,000 = milligrams). If there are 2.6 kilograms, the equation would be (2.6 kg x 1,000,000 = 2,600,000 mg).

26

Convert kilograms into grams using the equation (kilograms x 1,000 = grams). If there are 2.6 kilograms, the equation would be (2.6 kg x 1,000 = 2,600 g).