Measurements and the Metric System

Measurements and the Metric System

Measurement

Unit

Abbreviation

Metric Equivalent

Approximate Standard Equivalent

Length

nanometer

nm

1 nm = 10−9 m

·         1 mm = 0.039 inch

·         1 cm = 0.394 inch

·         1 m = 39.37 inches

·         1 m = 3.28 feet

·         1 m = 1.093 yards

·         1 km = 0.621 miles

micrometer

µm

1 µm = 10−6 m

millimeter

mm

1 mm = 0.001 m

centimeter

cm

1 cm = 0.01 m

meter

m

·         1 m = 100 cm

·         1 m = 1000 mm

kilometer

km

1 km = 1000 m

Mass

microgram

µg

1 µg = 10−6 g

·         1 g = 0.035 ounce

·         1 kg = 2.205 pounds

milligram

mg

1 mg = 10−3 g

gram

g

1 g = 1000 mg

kilogram

kg

1 kg = 1000 g

Volume

microliter

µl

1 µl = 10−6 l

·         1 ml = 0.034 fluid ounce

·         1 l = 1.057 quarts

·         1 kl = 264.172 gallons

milliliter

ml

1 ml = 10−3 l

liter

l

1 l = 1000 ml

kiloliter

kl

1 kl = 1000 l

Area

square centimeter

cm2

1 cm2 = 100 mm2

·         1 cm2 = 0.155 square inch

·         1 m2 = 10.764 square feet

·         1 m2 = 1.196 square yards

·         1 ha = 2.471 acres

square meter

m2

1 m2 = 10,000 cm2

hectare

ha

1 ha = 10,000 m2

Temperature

Celsius

°C

—

1 °C = 5/9 × (°F − 32)