The Metric System

1. The Metric System

2. The metric system • It was formulated in France in the late 18th century. • It became our legal standard of measure as its tables are simple and they are based upon the decimal system of notation. Length The standard unit of length in the metric system is the meter. Other units of length and their equivalents in meters are as follows: 1 nanometer (nm) = 0.000000001 meter 1 micrometer (um) = 0.000001 meter1 millimeter (mm) = 0.001 meter1 centimeter (cm) = 0.01 meter1 decimeter (dm) = 0.1 meter1 decameter (dam) = 10 meters 1 hectometer (hm) = 100 meters 1 kilometer (km) = 1000 meters

3. The metric system (Cont.) Volume - The standard unit of volume in the metric system is the liter. One liter is equal to 1000 cubic centimeters in volume. Other units of volume and their equivalents in liters are as follows: 1 microliter (uL) = 0.000001 liter 1 milliliter (mL) = 0.001 liter1 centiliter (cL) = 0.01 liter1 deciliter (dL) = 0.1 liter1 dekaliter (dal) = 10 liters 1 hektoliter (hl) = 100 liters 1 kiloliter (kL) = 1000 liters

4. The metric system (Cont.) Mass The standard unit of mass in the metric system is the gram. Other units of mass and their equivalents in grams are as follows:1 nanogram (ng) = 0.000000001 gram 1 microgram (ug or mcg) = 0.000001 gram 1 milligram (mg) = 0.001 gram1 centigram (cg) = 0.01 gram1 decigram (dg) = 0.1 gram 1 dekagram (dag) = 10 grams 1 hektogram (hg) = 100 grams 1 kilogram = 1000 grams