1-10. COMMONLY USED RELATIONSHIPS
a. Length. Three of the most commonly used length relationships in the metric
system are:
1 kilometer (km)
=
1000 meters (m)
1 meter (m)
=
100 centimeters (cm) = 1000 millimeters (mm)
1 centimeter (cm)
=
10 millimeters (mm)
b. Weight. Two of the most commonly used weight relationships in the metric
system are:
1 kilogram (kg)
=
1000 grams (gm)
1 gram (gm)
=
1000 milligrams (mg)
NOTE: We occasionally need the following relationship:
1 microgram (mcg)
=
__1_
1000 milligram (mg)
c. Volume. Three of the most commonly used volume relationships in the
metric system are:
1 liter (l)
=
1000 milliliters (ml)
1 liter (l)
=
1000 cubic centimeters (cc)
1 milliliter (ml)
=
1 cubic centimeter (cc)
NOTE: 1 milliliter of water weighs 1 gram
1-11. CONVERSION WITHIN THE METRIC SYSTEM
To convert a quantity in the metric system to a larger unit, we divide or move the
decimal point to the left. To convert to a smaller unit, we multiply or move the decimal
point to the right. Alternatively, we can use ratio and proportion as illustrated in the
following examples:
a. Example 1: Convert 0.3 mg to grams. (There are 1000 mg in 1 gram.)
IF
1000 mg
THEN
0.3 mg
1 gm
=
X gm
1000 X = 0.3 1
1000X = 0.3
1000
1000
X
= 0.0003 gm (answer)
MD0913
1-12