Measuring Metric Length

The prefix "milli" means 1,000. So a millimeter is:

• 10 times smaller as a meter

• 1,000 times bigger than a meter

• the same size as a meter

• 1,000 times smaller than a meter

The prefix "centi" means 100. So, a centimeter is:

• 100 times larger than a meter

• 1,000 times smaller than a meter

• 100 times smaller than a meter

• the same size as a meter

Would you measure the distance between your house and St. Aloysius in:

• meters

• millimeters

• centimeters

• kilometers

Which would be about the width of a doorway?

• 1 kilometer

• 1 meter

• 1 centimeter

• 1 milliliter

Leonardo's road map shows that the distance between Dallas and Houston is 385 of some metric unit. However, the map has been torn, so Leonardo cannot read what the unit is. What is the unit for this distance?

• mm

• cm

• m

• km

A grain of sand measures about____________?

• 1 m (meter)

• 1 mm (millimeter)

• 1 km (kilometer)

• 1 cm (centimeter)

Is the length of this pinecone closer to 5 cm or 5 dm?

• 5 cm

• 5 dm

The abbreviation for meters is

• mm

• cm

• m

• dm

Answer explanation

A meter stick measures out 100 cm.

Is the length of this feather closer to 8 cm or 8 mm?

• 8 cm

• 2 mm

Is the length of this feather closer to 2 cm or 2 dm?

• 2 cm

• 2 dm