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A "light" introduction to the metric system may be found at The Metric System According to milli meter
and the metric system itself begins with the definition of
meter.
Once the meter (for
length) is defined, other units based on the meter are define.
Grams are used for mass.
Liters are used for
volume.
Next come the prefixes. Prefixes create
multiples and parts of the basic units and this makes measusrement of all sorts easier.
This page deals with the metric prefixes -- a base ten system of naming
units. The above mentioned introduction
really explains it quite nicely.
This page contains a chart of the prefixes and 3 examples.
The top is the complete list of metric prefixes, symbols, and their powers.
The second contains everyday perfixes & CHANGES ONE MEASURE TO ANOTHER.
The examples show that:
To change units, move the decimal point as needed.
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