What is the metric system?

The metric system is a system of measurement used around the world!

Its base units are the

meter,

the

gram,

and the

liter.

To make these base units larger or smaller, you can use

prefixes.

A prefix can be added to the beginning of a word. It changes the meaning of the word.

These are the most common prefixes used in the metric system:

Milli- means
1
1,000
of the base unit.
Centi- means
1
100
of the base unit.
Kilo- means 1,000 of the base unit.

Metric units of length

The base metric unit for measuring length is the meter (m). A guitar is about 1 meter long.

The millimeter, centimeter, and kilometer are other common units for measuring length.

A millimeter (mm) is
1
1,000
of a meter. A credit card is about 1 millimeter thick.
A centimeter (cm) is
1
100
of a meter. A fingernail is about 1 centimeter wide.
A kilometer (km) is 1,000 times as large as a meter. A kilometer is about the distance you could walk in 10 minutes.

Try some practice problems!

Which metric unit of length is appropriate?

Metric units of mass

The base metric unit for measuring mass is the gram (g). The mass of an object is similar to its weight. A paper clip has a mass of about 1 gram.

The kilogram (kg) is another common unit for measuring mass. A kilogram is 1,000 times as heavy as a gram. A pineapple has a mass of about 1 kilogram.