Page 158 - ICSE Math 5

Metric Sy
11 Metric Systemstem

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to learn:
 about larger and smaller units of length, weight and capacity.
 the conversions of length, weight and capacity from larger to smaller units and vice versa.
 to solve daily life problems involving length, weight and capacity.

We know that every measurement has a standard unit. These units come under metric system.
Let’s revise the standard units used for measuring length, weight and capacity in the metric
system.
• The standard unit of length is metre (m).

• The standard unit of weight is gram (g).

• The standard unit of capacity is litre (L).

These standard units are either too small or too large for the measurement of certain quantities.
So, we also have some larger and smaller units of measurement as compared to these standard
units. The larger and smaller units of measurement are named by adding prefixes to the standard
units.
Look at the table given below to know different units used for measuring length, weight and
capacity.

Standard
Larger units units Smaller units

Units of Kilometre Hectometre Decametre Metre Decimetre Centimetre Millimetre
Length (km) (hm) (dam) (m) (dm) (cm) (mm)

Units of Kilogram Hectogram Decagram Gram Decigram Centigram Milligram
Weight (kg) (hg) (dag) (g) (dg) (cg) (mg)

Units of Kilolitre Hectolitre Decalitre Litre Decilitre Centilitre Millilitre
Capacity (kL) (hL) (daL) (L) (dL) (cL) (mL)

The table shows the larger units on the left and smaller units on the right of the standard units.
The abbreviations of these units are used for the convenience of writing.

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