Lesson 1.4
Core Focus on
Ratios, Rates and Statistics
Metric Conversions
Warm-Up
1. Roger has 6 green olives and 4 black olives.
a) Write the ratio of Roger’s green olives to his black olives.
3
2
b) Write the ratio of Roger’s green olives to his total number
of olives.
3
5
2. Complete each conversion.
1.5 feet
a) 18 inches = _____
b) 2 tons = _____
4,000 pounds
Lesson 1.4
Metric Conversions
Convert metric measurements.
Good to Know!
The metric system of measurement is used all over the world. The metric system
is a base-ten, or decimal, system of measurement.

Meter: defines metric units of length.

Gram: defines metric units of mass.

Liter: defines metric units of volume.
The prefix measurement relates the unit to a meter, gram or liter.
Example 1
Choose a reasonable estimate. Explain your reasoning for
each choice.
a. weight of paperclip: 1 gram or 1 kilogram
1 gram. It is helpful to estimate the weight of 1 gram by
thinking of 1 gram as the weight of a paperclip.
b. length of van: 4 kilometers or 4 meters
4 meters. A meter is a little longer than a yard which is
three feet. So 4 meters is slightly longer than 12 feet.
c. water in a personal water bottle: 1 milliliter or 1 liter
1 liter. One liter could be the size of a large personal
water bottle. A drop of water would be a good estimate
for 1 milliliter.
Example 2
Using the information in the conversion table, find the number
of centimeters in 60 millimeters.
millimeters
10
20
30
50
60
centimeters
1
2
3
5
?
Each pair of millimeter and centimeter values
show the ratio of millimeters to centimeters.
Choose any ratio and write it as a fraction.
Simplify the ratio, if needed.
Find an equivalent ratio with 60 millimeters.
There are 6 centimeters in 60 millimeters.
10 mm
1 cm
Example 3
Complete the conversion.
a. 2 kilometers = ________ meters
Find the conversion factor.
1 kilometer = 1000 meters
Multiply 2 kilometers by 1,000.
2  1000 = 2000
2 kilometers = 2,000 meters.
When converting from one
metric unit to another, you
will multiply or divide by 10,
100, 1000, …
Example 3 Continued…
Complete the conversion.
b. 3.9 kilogram = ________ grams
Find the conversion factor.
1 kilogram = 1000 grams
Multiply 3.9 kilograms by 1,000.
3.9  1000 = 3900
3.9 kilograms = 3,900 grams.
Example 3 Continued…
Complete the conversion.
c. 4,000 meters = ________ kilometers
Find the conversion factor.
1 kilometer = 1000 meters
Divide 4,000 meters by 1,000.
4000  1000 = 4
4,000 meters = 4 kilometers.
Example 3 Continued…
Complete the conversion.
d. 650 centimeters = ________ meters
Find the conversion factor.
1 meter = 100 centimeters
Divide 650 centimeters by 100.
650  100 = 6.5
650 centimeters = 6.5 meters.
Communication Prompt
How does the prefix on a metric unit help you
determine the size of the metric unit?
Exit Problems
Complete each conversion.
1. 8 meters = ________
centimeters
800
2. 600 meters = ________
0.6
kilometers
19,000 grams
3. 19 kilograms = ________