measurement · Year 6 · AC9M6M01
Metric unit conversion
Metric units go up in steps of 10, 100 or 1000 — not always 10. Changing a larger unit into a smaller one makes the number bigger, so you multiply by the fact for those units: 1 metre = 100 centimetres, 1 kilometre = 1000 metres, 1 kilogram = 1000 grams, 1 litre = 1000 millilitres. So 3 metres = 3 × 100 = 300 centimetres. Ask first whether the number should get bigger or smaller, then use the exact fact for the two units.
Sample questions
Convert 5 metres to millimetres. Give the answer in mm.
- There are 1000 millimetres in 1 metre.
- 5 × 1000 = 5000 mm.
Answer: 5000
Convert 3 kilograms to grams. Give the answer in g.
- There are 1000 grams in 1 kilogram.
- 3 × 1000 = 3000 g.
Answer: 3000
Convert 4 metres to millimetres. Give the answer in mm.
- There are 1000 millimetres in 1 metre.
- 4 × 1000 = 4000 mm.
Answer: 4000