Metric Unit Conversions Worksheets

How to Convert Between the Units Kilo, Milli, Centi - Every physical quantity has several units that can be used according to different situations. For example, to measure a huge mass, we might use ton. Whereas, while we measure a small magnitude of mass, we can use a gram. But then again, a single unit can be used in different situations as well. For that, we can use few additions with these units called prefixes. A prefix in physics or Math is a term that can alter the magnitude of a physical quantity if written with them. Kilo, milli, and centi are some common examples of these prefixes. Conversions between these prefixes are pretty simple. A prefix has its own numeric meaning. A kilo is an equivalent of the numeric value 1000. Milli is a 1000th of something, and centi is a 100th once we know these conversion factors, the rest is pretty easy. While converting from kilo to centi, we can multiply a number with 1000 and then by 100. All physical quantities are measurable and can be measured using a certain measuring instrument. The magnitude of any physical quantity can be represented by a certain number, followed by a unit. The main purpose of units is to determine that the magnitude represents which physical quantity and how much of it. Soon after people realized that they could measure physical quantities, they created a measuring unit system. Every region of the world created its measuring system having different units for the same physical quantities as per their region. But to create common grounds for the whole world of physics and mathematics, scientists created a system international for units via which they achieved to set a common unit for a particular physical quantity that would be used across the globe. To express the differences in magnitudes of situations in which those units were to be used, scientists introduced certain prefixes for brevity. Centi, Kilo, and Milli are few of those prefixes, and their task is to alter the magnitude of a certain unit by which they are attached. Kilo means thousand, centi means hundredth and milli means thousandth. So one kilogram automatically means a thousand grams. The conversion between these prefixes is simple. We just have to look for the meaning of these prefixes and do the math accordingly. For example, kilo represents a thousand, and centi represents a hundredth of something; then, there is a difference of five digits between kilo and centi. So, while going form kilo to centi, we multiply kilo by thousand and then multiply the answer by hundred to obtain the final answer. While going back to a kilo, we can repeat the process, only this time we must divide instead of multiplying.

A Small Snack

What is a popular snack at the Metric Day Care Center?

A gram cracker!