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The metric system is the measurement system most commonly used in
science. Metric units are sometimes called SI units. SI stands for International
System. It is called that because these units are used around the world.
  These prefixes are used in the metric system:
  kilo- means thousand
1 kilometer equals 1,000 meters
  milli- means one-thousandth
1,000 millimeters equals 1 meter or 1 millimeter = 0.001 meter
  centi- means hundredths
100 centimeters equals 1 meter or 1 centimeter = 0.01 meter
Length and Distance
1 meter
  1 yard
  Mass
One kilogram is greater
than 1 pound.
 
   
  One meter is longer
than 1 yard.
1 pound  
  1 kilogram
     Volume
 One liter is  greater than
 4 cups.
1 liter
  1 cup
   
   Temperature
 Water freezes at 0°C
 or 32°F. Water boils
 at 100°C or 212°F.