Moving the Decimal

How exactly does the King Henry mnemonic or your own KHDMDCM saying help? What does it look like to convert units of measurement in the metric system? Converting metric units of measurement is the same for length, weight, and volume. Let’s work through an example.

How many centimeters are in 10 kilometers?

Work through the slides to see how to do this conversion using the process shown in the video.

Slide: 1 / 5

Getting Started

Start by writing out the letters that represent the metric units of measurement.

Letters that represent the metric units of measurement: K, H, D, m, D, C, M.

To and From

Identify where in the order you are starting, then where you want to end.

In the example, you are starting with 10 kilometers, which is the “K,” and ending at centimeters, which is “C.”

Letters that represent the metric units of measurement: K (Start Here), H, D, m, D, C (End Here), M.

Ready, Set, Jump!

Count how many jumps there are from where you are starting to where you are stopping.

Letters that represent the metric units of measurement: K (Start Here), H, D, m, D, C (End Here), M. There are five arrows representing five jumps between metric units K and C.

There are 5 jumps from the kilometers (K) to the centimeters (C). This means that you will move the decimal point 5 places when you convert from kilometers to centimeters.

Which way do you go?

Now that you know how many places to move your decimal point, which direction do you move it? Look at your jumps!

Move the decimal point in the same direction that you jumped. In this example, you are jumping to the right 5 places, so move your decimal point to the right 5 places.

Not Enough Digits?

You are starting with 10 kilometers. The number 10 is a whole number, so the decimal point follows the 0. The number 10 only has 2 places. How do you move the decimal point 5 places? When you need more places, add zeroes!

Like this…

Ten (Five arrows indicating moving five decimal places to the right) becomes one million.

Your final answer: 10 kilometers = 1,000,000 centimeters.

Let’s practice what you have learned! Convert the measurements in the chart below. Remember, you need to change the middle M in your mnemonic to the base unit. After you finish the conversions, click the measurement to check your answers.

	1 gram = 100 centigrams
	95 liters = 95,000 milliliters
	1.45 liters = 14.5 deciliters
	3.5 grams = 3,500 milligrams
	115 milliliters = 0.00115 hectoliters