HELP please on understanding the metric system!

notmanydaysoff · Sep 20, 2011

can you give an ex of exactly the type of problem you're having?

is it nomenclature

relationship amongst the various units

conversion

differentiating between liquid, mass, length?

it helps immensely to understand the root of the words

deci - 10

centi - 100

milli /kilo - 1000

from that, you can figure out the value. can't help you much moer for tips, except that some of the conversion factors you're just gonna have to memorize

1 kg = 2.2 lb

30 ml = 1 oz

1 qt or 32 oz = almost a ltr

1 gal = 3.8 ltr

good luck

td2620 · Sep 21, 2011

King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk -this is an acronym, K=kilo, H=hecto, D=deca, B=base, D=deci, C=centi, and M=milli

An example on how to use this method would be like converting 10.57 kg to g. You wound start at K for kilo and skip to B which is base. You would move the decimal three to the right. And add zeros for the empty spots. The answer would be 10,570 grams. Its that easy!

This helped me in school do my conversions. I would just write it on my scrap paper and use it! :lol2:

JaceyA. · Sep 21, 2011

can you give an ex of exactly the type of problem you're having?

is it nomenclature
relationship amongst the various units
conversion
differentiating between liquid, mass, length?

it helps immensely to understand the root of the words
deci - 10
centi - 100
milli /kilo - 1000

from that, you can figure out the value. can't help you much moer for tips, except that some of the conversion factors you're just gonna have to memorize

1 kg = 2.2 lb
30 ml = 1 oz
1 qt or 32 oz = almost a ltr
1 gal = 3.8 ltr

good luck

Most of the problems are conversions, and thanks for the help. The book that I bought to study from had nothing in it involving the metric system!! SO thanks alot!! One of the examples in the practice test is " A woman recieved a bottle with half an oz. of perfume. How many mL is this?" But since 30 mL is 1 oz, I now know the answer is 15mL. so thank you:yeah:

JaceyA. · Sep 21, 2011

King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk -this is an acronym, K=kilo, H=hecto, D=deca, B=base, D=deci, C=centi, and M=milli
An example on how to use this method would be like converting 10.57 kg to g. You wound start at K for kilo and skip to B which is base. You would move the decimal three to the right. And add zeros for the empty spots. The answer would be 10,570 grams. Its that easy!
This helped me in school do my conversions. I would just write it on my scrap paper and use it!

wow! i have actually never heard of that! that makes a lot of sense lol thank you! i will definitely be using that!

td2620 · Sep 21, 2011

Yes, one of my nursing instructors showed us that in class and like I said, I just would jot it at the bottom of my scrap paper and and it worked every time...LOVED IT!

JaceyA. · Oct 1, 2011

thanks to all! I passed the test with flying colors :)

td2620 · Oct 2, 2011

Glad to hear it :up:

adorable42181 · Oct 2, 2011

King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk -this is an acronym, K=kilo, H=hecto, D=deca, B=base, D=deci, C=centi, and M=milli
An example on how to use this method would be like converting 10.57 kg to g. You wound start at K for kilo and skip to B which is base. You would move the decimal three to the right. And add zeros for the empty spots. The answer would be 10,570 grams. Its that easy!
This helped me in school do my conversions. I would just write it on my scrap paper and use it!

Thanks a Lot for this one. Quick question does the b always stand for gram?

sugarmagnoliaRN · Oct 7, 2011

Thanks a Lot for this one. Quick question does the b always stand for gram?

Not necessarily, it can apply to any unit in the metric system (i.e. weight, volume, etc...). So it would be gram if you're talking about weight but liter if you're talking about volume. HTH!

SueBarnard · Mar 1, 2014

So I like the mnemonic device but where does mcg fit? I thought it was at the end after mg. Am I right?

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 1, 2014

Yes, mcg comes after mg