How do you change a size of the metric unit?

Answer 1

If by smaller unit, the unit represents something smaller (like inches or centimeters), and you are converting to something larger (like feet or meters), then you will be dividing by a conversion factor (the units are larger, so it takes less of them to represent the same thing).

One method that helps is to create an equality, such as 2.54 cm = 1 in. Then divide both sides by one or the other, such as:

• 1 = (1 in)/(2.54 cm) or
• (2.54 cm)/(1 in) = 1

Then if you have something like 8 cm, and want to convert it to inches, just multiply by the appropriate conversion (in this case the one with cm in denominator). Effectively, you are just multiplying by 1, which doesn't change the measurement.

So 8 cm = (8 cm) * 1 = (8 cm) * (1 in)/(2.54 cm) = 3.1496 in. (about 3 5/32 in)

Answer 2

You do not.

Metric units are internationally agreed standard measurement units. They can only be changed by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM, its acronym after its French name), which is charged with maintaining international uniformity.

Answer 3

To change the size of a metric unit, you can convert it using metric prefixes such as kilo (k), centi (c), or milli (m). Each prefix represents a different factor of 10, for example, kilo means 1000 times larger and milli means 1000 times smaller. By adding or removing these prefixes to the unit, you can adjust its size accordingly.

Answer 4

The basic idea is for them not to change.

Answer 5

You divide the larger unit by a factor to convert into the smaller unit

Answer 6

You divide the numbers.

Answer 7

Divide by the appropriate power of ten.