Page 159 - ICSE Math 5

In the given table, kilo, hecto, deca, deci, centi and milli are the prefixes added to the standard
units. A unit prefix shows how big or small the unit of measurement is when compared to the
standard units.
In the metric system, the given prefixes have a meaning and a fixed value. Let’s know about the
prefixes.

Prefix Kilo Hecto Deca Deci Centi Milli

Meaning Thousand Hundred Ten One-tenth One-hundredth One-thousandth

1 1 1
Value 1,000 100 10
10 100 1000
The prefixes when added to the standard units indicate the multiples or fractions of the standard
units.

Conversion of Metric Measures

Length

We know that the height of a building, a person or distance between any two places is a measure
of length. We have already learnt how to measure the length of small objects using a ruler. Have
you ever noticed the small markings between any two numbers on a ruler?

If you observe the ruler carefully, you will notice that there are
small divisions between the consecutive centimetre units. Each 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
small division measures 1 millimetre (mm) which is a smaller unit
of measuring length.
Look at the following table to know the various units for measuring length.

Multiply by 10 to go to a smaller unit.

 10  10  10  10  10  10

kilometre hectometre decametre metre decimetre centimetre millimetre
(km) (hm) (dam) (m) (dm) (cm) (mm)
 1  1  1  1  1  1
10 10 10 10 10 10
1
Multiply by (or divide by 10) to go to a bigger unit.
10

To convert from a larger unit to a smaller unit, multiply the value by 10 as many times till you
reach that unit.
For example, to convert 1 km to dam, multiply the value by 10 twice.

1 km = 1 × (10 × 10) dam = 100 dam
Example 1: Convert 5 hm to dm.

Solution: 5 hm = 5 × (10 × 10 × 10) dm = 5 × 1,000 dm  10  10  10
= 5,000 dm hm dam m dm

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