A book has a mass of 2.5 kilograms. How many grams is this?
A25 grams
B250 grams
C2,500 grams
D25,000 grams
Kilo- means 1,000, so 1 kilogram = 1,000 grams. Multiply: 2.5 × 1,000 = 2,500 grams. When converting to a smaller unit, the number gets larger — more grams than kilograms.
Question 2 True / False
Converting 450 centimeters to meters requires dividing by 100 because meters are larger than centimeters.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: True
Since you are converting to a larger unit (meters), each meter contains more centimeters, so you need fewer meters — you divide. 450 ÷ 100 = 4.5 meters. A common error is multiplying when you should divide; the rule is: converting to a larger unit means dividing.
Question 3 Short Answer
What makes converting within the metric system easier than converting within the customary system (inches, feet, yards, miles)?
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: Metric conversions always involve multiplying or dividing by powers of 10, which aligns with place value. Customary conversions use irregular factors like 12 (inches to feet), 3 (feet to yards), and 5,280 (feet to miles).
The metric system was designed around decimal regularity — each prefix is exactly 10 times the next. This means converting is equivalent to moving the decimal point, a direct application of place-value understanding. No such pattern exists in the customary system.