Metric Conversions
Ladder Method
Ladder Method
1
2
KILO
1000
Units
King
3
HECTO
100
Units
DECA
10
Units
Henry
DECI
0.1
Unit
Drinks
Some
CENTI
0.01
Unit
MILLI
0.001
Unit
Meters Delicious
Chocolate
Liters
Milk
Grams
How do you use the “ladder” method?
4 km = _________ m
1st – Determine your starting point.
2nd – Count the “jumps” to your ending point.
3rd – Move the decimal the same number of
jumps in the same direction.
Starting Point
Ending Point
How many jumps does it take?
4. __. __. __. = 4000 m
1
2
3
Conversion Practice
Try these conversions using the ladder method.
1
1000 mg = _______
g
1000 mL
1 L = _______
1600 mm
160 cm = _______
14,000 m
14 km = _______
.109 kg
109 g = _______
.250 km
250 m = _______
Compare using <, >, or =.
56 cm < 6 m
7g
> 698 mg
Metric Conversion Challenge
Write the correct abbreviation for each metric unit.
kg
1) Kilogram _____
ml
4) Milliliter _____
km
7) Kilometer _____
m
2) Meter _____
mm
5) Millimeter _____
cm
8) Centimeter _____
g
3) Gram _____
L
6) Liter _____
mg
9) Milligram _____
Try these conversions, using the ladder method.
10) 2000 mg = _______
g
2
15) 5 L = _______
5000 mL
20) 16 cm = _______
160 mm
104,000 m
11) 104 km = _______
.198 kg
16) 198 g = _______
2.5 km
21) 2500 m = _______
4.8 m
12) 480 cm = _____
.075 L
17) 75 mL = _____
22) 65 g = 65,000
_____ mg
5,600 g
13) 5.6 kg = _____
.5 m
18) 50 cm = _____
63 mm
23) 6.3 cm = _____
.8 cm
14) 8 mm = _____
560 cm
19) 5.6 m = _____
.120 g
24) 120 mg = _____
Compare using <, >, or =.
25) 63 cm <
26) 536 cm =
6m
53.6 dm
27) 5 g > 508 mg
29) 1,500 mL = 1.5 L
28) 43 mg <
30) 3.6 m > 36 cm
5g