Learning pack · Foundation · CIE Core

The Metric System

What's in this pack: printable worksheet PDF, matching answers PDF (Foundation · CIE Core depth). The metric system links length, mass and capacity by powers of ten. This Foundation summary reviews the common conversions you need in worded measures questions, with the worksheet for practice and the answers PDF for checks.

Resources at the top · full summary · videos with short notes below.

🎒 Resources in this pack

Jump straight to the printable files, or scroll to the summary and videos.

Scaffolded Learning Sheet — attempt the worksheet, then use the Answers for a full written solution.

📝 Open Learning Sheet ✅ Open answers 🎬 More topic videos (1)📖 Full summary

Files: foundation-3 The Metric System.pdf · foundation-3 The Metric System handout answers.pdf

Full topic summary

The metric system links length, mass and capacity by powers of ten. This Foundation summary reviews the common conversions you need in worded measures questions, with the worksheet for practice and the answers PDF for checks.

Key learning points

Length: $1\,\mathrm{km}=1000\,\mathrm{m}$ , $1\,\mathrm{m}=100\,\mathrm{cm}=1000\,\mathrm{mm}$ .
Mass: $1\,\mathrm{kg}=1000\,\mathrm{g}$ ; capacity: $1\,\mathrm{l}=1000\,\mathrm{ml}$ .
Convert to a single unit before calculating area or volume.
Estimate first so a slipped decimal place stands out.

Worked example 1 — Length conversion

Convert $2.5\,\mathrm{km}$ to metres.

Working

2500\,\mathrm{m}

$1\,\mathrm{km}=1000\,\mathrm{m}$ .

Worked example 2 — Mass

Convert $450\,\mathrm{g}$ to kg.

Working

0.45\,\mathrm{kg}

$1\,\mathrm{kg}=1000\,\mathrm{g}$ .

Worked example 3 — Capacity

Convert $1.2\,\mathrm{l}$ to ml.

Working

1200\,\mathrm{ml}

$1\,\mathrm{l}=1000\,\mathrm{ml}$ .

Worked example 4 — Area units

Side $30\,\mathrm{cm}$ . Area in $\mathrm{m}^2$ ?

Working

0.09\,\mathrm{m}^2

Convert to metres first.

🎬 Topic videos

Applying the metric system | Ratios, proportions, units, and rates | Pre-Algebra | Khan Academy
Khan Academy · 6 min
Lower Secondary classroom-friendly explainer. Scaffold→stretch friendly; use with mixed-ability groups.

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Browse the hub Learning Packs & Summary, or open the compact The Metric System summary.