Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division of Metric Measures

Addition and Subtraction of Metric Measures

We add or subtract the metric measures in the same way as the whole numbers.

Example 1:  Add 2621, 3538 and 251.

Solution:

m  dm  cm  mm

2    6     2     1

3    5     3     8

  +  2     5     1

-------------------

6    4     1     0

--------------------

Example 2:  Subtract 1589 from 6398.

Solution:

    kg   hg   dag   g

     6     3      9     8

 –  1     5      8     9

------------------------

     4     8      0     9

------------------------

Multiplication and Division of Metric Measures

Example 1:  Multiply 1 km 3 hm 2 dam 8 m by 4.

Solution:

 km hm dam m

   1    3    2     8

                 ×   4

   -----------------

    5    3    1    2

   -----------------

Example 2:  Divide 6 kL 3 hL 5 daL 5 L by 5.

Solution:

        kL hL daL L

   5)  6   3    5   5

   ---------------------

         1   2   7   1

Converting Metric Units to Decimals

To convert a lower unit to a higher unit of measure, we convert the lower unit into a decimal fraction first and then change it into a decimal number to express in the higher unit like this:

Example 1:  Convert 3921 m in km

.

Solution: Since 1000 m = 1 km

Thus, 3921/1000 = 3.921 km

Example 2:  Convert 568 g in kg.

Solution: Since 1000 g = 1 kg

Thus, 568/1000 = 0.568 kg

Example 3:  Convert 3105 L in kL.

Solution: Since 1000 L = 1 kL

Thus, 3105/1000 = 3.105 kL

Related Topics:

Conversion of Units

Conversion of Temperatures

Conversion of Percentages