How to Solve Conversions in the Metric System

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).