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How to Convert Seconds in the Metric System

The metric clock, or decimal clock, uses a base-10 system instead of the base-60 system widely used today. Each metric minute comprises 100 metric seconds, and each metric hour comprises 100 decimal minutes. In the standard system, each minute equals 60 seconds, and each hour equals 60 minutes. However, because of the Earth's rotation, the length of a metric day (10 metric hours) and a standard day (24 standard hours) are equivalent. What differs is the length of hours, minutes and seconds. Metric time has not been adopted or significantly used because the base-60 system for time is deeply ingrained in society.

Things You'll Need

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Instructions

    • 1

      Divide the number of metric seconds by 100 to convert to metric minutes. For example, if you have 2,500 metric seconds, divide 2,500 by 100 to get 25 metric minutes.

    • 2

      Divide the number of metric seconds by 10,000 to convert to metric hours. In this example, divide 2,500 by 10,000 to get 0.25 metric hours.

    • 3

      Divide the number of metric seconds by 100,000 to convert to metric days. In this example, divide 2,500 by 100,000 to get 0.025 metric days.

    • 4

      Multiply the number of metric seconds by 0.864 to convert to standard seconds. Each metric second equals 0.864 standard seconds. For this example, multiply 2,500 by 0.864 to get 2,160 standard seconds.

    • 5

      Multiply the number of decimal seconds by 0.0144 to convert to standard minutes. (To derive 0.0144, divide 1.44 [the number of standard minutes per metric minute] by 100 [the number of metric seconds per metric minute]). In this example, multiply 2,500 by 0.0144 to get 36 standard minutes.

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