How are metric units converted?

How are metric units converted?

• A. Adding numbers
• B. Referencing tables
• C. Using a calculator
• D. Multiplying or dividing by powers of ten

Answer: (D)

Metric unit conversions hinge on powers of ten because the metric system is decimal. To switch between metric units, you multiply or divide by the factor that relates the two units, and that factor is always a power of ten. When you move to a larger unit (fewer units per quantity), you divide by the factor and slide the decimal left. When you move to a smaller unit (more units per quantity), you multiply by the factor and slide the decimal right. For example, 1 kilometer equals 1000 meters, so converting meters to kilometers involves dividing by 1000 (move the decimal left three places). Conversely, converting meters to millimeters involves multiplying by 1000 (move the decimal right three places). Similarly, 1 meter equals 100 centimeters, so converting centimeters to meters means dividing by 100 (decimal left two places). The core idea is this decimal scaling by powers of ten; calculators or tables can aid the arithmetic, but the rule is about moving the decimal according to the 10^n factors.

Metric unit conversions hinge on powers of ten because the metric system is decimal. To switch between metric units, you multiply or divide by the factor that relates the two units, and that factor is always a power of ten. When you move to a larger unit (fewer units per quantity), you divide by the factor and slide the decimal left. When you move to a smaller unit (more units per quantity), you multiply by the factor and slide the decimal right. For example, 1 kilometer equals 1000 meters, so converting meters to kilometers involves dividing by 1000 (move the decimal left three places). Conversely, converting meters to millimeters involves multiplying by 1000 (move the decimal right three places). Similarly, 1 meter equals 100 centimeters, so converting centimeters to meters means dividing by 100 (decimal left two places). The core idea is this decimal scaling by powers of ten; calculators or tables can aid the arithmetic, but the rule is about moving the decimal according to the 10^n factors.