One of the great things about the metric system of measurement is that is based on the powers of 10 which means that all we have to do when converting between different units is to move the decimal point. The following diagram can be used to help convert between the common metric units.

Moving up a step moves the decimal one place to the left where as moving down a step moves the decimal one place to the right.

Give it a try.
100 cm = 1.00 m

Practice:

1. 5123 mm = ___ cm
2. 32 km = ____ m
3. 13 km = ____ mm
4. 3 dm = ____ m
5. 0.0325 km = ____ m
6. 632 cm = ____ m