The Metric System of Measurements
In Figure 6.1, we see the essence or partial listing of the nomenclature centered
on the meter the base unit for length. These are the only units needed in the
early grades in schools for any measurements involving length. Each entry in the
"Unit of Measure" column is either a multiple of a meter, the meter itself, or a
submultiple of a meter. In the "Exponential Form" column, multiples have positive
exponents, the central measure (the meter) has a zero exponent, and all
submultiples have negative exponents.
Unit of Measure
1 kilometer
1 hectometer
1 dekameter
1 meter
1 decimeter
1 centimeter
1 millimeter
Equivalent in Meters
1000 meters
100 meters
10 meters
1 meter
0.1 meter
0.01 meter
0.001 meter
Exponential Form
103 meters
𝟏𝟎𝟐 meters
𝟏𝟎𝟏 meters
100 meter
𝟏𝟎−𝟏 meter
10−2 meter
10−3 meter
Figure 6.1, Metric Units of Length.
With this in place, the metric system of weights can be easily constructed
by merely replacing the word “meter” in Figure 6.1 with the word “gram” to
create the table in Figure 6.2.
Unit of Measure
1 kilogram
1 hectogram
1 dekagram
1 gram
1 decigram
1 centigram
1 milligram
Figure 6.2: Metric Weights.
Equivalent in Grams
1000 grams
100 grams
10 grams
1 gram
0.1 gram
0.01 gram
0.001 gram
Exponential Form
103 grams
𝟏𝟎𝟐 grams
𝟏𝟎𝟏 grams
100 gram
𝟏𝟎−𝟏 gram
10−2 gram
10−3 gram
In liquid measure or capacity, the same system is again re-used by replacing
the word “meter” in Figure 6.1 with the word “liter” to create the table in Figure
6.3
Unit of Measure
1 kiloliter
1 hectoliter
1 dekaliter
1 liter
1 deciliter
1 centiliter
1 milliliter
Equivalent in Liters
1000 liters
100 liters
10 liters
1 liter
0.1 liter
0.01 liter
0.001 liter
Exponential Form
103 liters
𝟏𝟎𝟐 liters
𝟏𝟎𝟏 liters
100 liter
𝟏𝟎−𝟏 liter
10−2 liter
10−3 liter
Figure 6.3: Metric Capacity
These three tables of the pure metric system are the only ones needed for
measurements in length, weight, and capacity for commerce and education
beginning in kindergarten. The intrinsic simplicity, interchangeable arrangements,
and ease of use of these measurements are characteristics that provide a
powerful tool, with sophisticated mathematics made very simple. It provides a
solid foundation for achieving excellence in mathematics and science education.
Source: A Letter to All American Parents by a Mathematics Teacher - How to Fix
Mathematics and Science Education - and why Common Core is not the Answer.
By Dillon M. Lobban Ed.D