Prefixes in the metric system are related by a power of 10. This means that each successive prefix is 10 times larger than the previous one. Converting one metric measurement to another is straightforward and often as simple as moving a decimal point.
Examples:
- 1 milliliter (mL) = 0.001 liter (L) = 1/1,000th of a liter (L)
- 10 milliliters (mL) = 0.01 liters (L) = 1 centiliter (cL) = 1/100th of a liter (L)
- 10 centiliters (cL) equals 0.1 liter (L) or 1 deciliter (dL) = 1/10th of a liter (L)
- 10 deciliters (dL) equals 1 liter (L)
Note: It is always important to consider the direction of the conversion in the placement of that decimal point. If you are converting a smaller unit to a larger unit, then the decimal point has to move to the left (making your number smaller). If you are converting a larger unit to a smaller unit, then the decimal point has to move to the right (making your number larger).
A simple ratio and proportion calculation is all that is needed to perform conversions among different measurements within the metric system.
