Basics of Algebra – Metric units of measure Page 5
Metric units of measure
Several systems of measurement are used in the world today to describe objects. The one used most is called the metric system. The basic unit of length used in this system is the meter (m). The other metric units of length are named by putting a prefix with the word meter, as shown in the chart below.
| prefix | meaning |
| kilo hecto deka deci centi milli | thousand hundred ten tenth hundredth thousandth |
WORKSHEET & Sample PDF Activity
Sample PDF Activity
Some other common units used in the metric system are the gram (g), which is the basic unit of weight and the liter (L). which is the basic unit of capacity. The prefixes shown in the chart above can also be used in naming the units of weight and capacity,
1 liter = 1,000 milliliter
1 gram = 1,000 milligrams
Answer each question.
- What does deka mean?
- What does milli mean?
- Which is longer a centimeter or a meter?
- Which is heavier a milligram or a kilogram?
- Which is more, c centiliter or a liter?
Name the unit each abbreviation represents.
- km
- cL
- g
- mm
- kg
- cm
- mg
- kL
