Metric and Household system

Standard Rules for Writing Metric Numbers

1. Use Arabic numbers, not roman numerals, with the metric symbols (e.g., 1 mg, 10 g, 3.5 L).

2. Always put a space between the Arabic number and the metric symbol (e.g., 1 g).

3. Always place the Arabic number before the metric symbol (e.g., 1 g or 2.5 mL).

4. Use decimal fractions (e.g., 0.5 mg or 0.75 cm), not fractional units (e.g., ½ mg or ¾ cm).

5. For decimal fractions, always place a before the decimal point (e.g., 0.5 mL or 0.3 L).

6. Omit (e.g., 1 mL, not 1.0 mL).

7. Write the symbols in the singular form (e.g., 15 mL, not 15 mLs, or 100 kg, not 100 kgs).

8. Use properly spaced commas for numbers in the thousands (e.g., 5,000 units). Use the word “thousand” for larger doses in the hundreds of thousands (e.g., 150 thousand) and the word “million” for numbers in the millions (e.g., 1 million units).

Larger unit → smaller unit:

MULTIPLY.
You need more small units to represent the same amount.

Smaller unit → larger unit:

DIVIDE.
You need fewer large units to represent the same amount.

Weight or mass

Kilogram (kg), gram (g), milligram (mg), microgram (mcg)

Liquid volume

Liter (L), milliliter (mL)

Length

Meter (m), centimeter (cm), millimeter (mm)

1 kg = ? g

1,000 g

1 g = ? mg

1,000 mg

1 mg = ? mcg

1,000 mcg

1 L = ? mL

1,000 mL

1 m = ? cm

100 cm

1 cm = ? mm

10 mm

1 tsp = ? mL

5 mL

3 tsp = ? Tbsp

1 Tbsp

1 Tbsp = ? mL

15 mL

2 Tbsp = ? oz

1 oz

30 milliliters = ? oz

1 oz

2.2 lbs = ?

1 kg

1 inch = ? cm

2.54 cm

1 cup = ? mL ? oz

240 mL (8 oz)

1 pint = ? mL

480 mL (2 cup)