MODULE 1:

SYSTEMS OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

SYSTEMS OF MEASUREMENTS
STEMS / BASIC UNITS RULES OF THE METRIC SYSTEM

m 1. Arabic Numerals are used to express quantities in this system.

Length
• 10 mcg instead of X mcg

2. Parts of a unit or a fraction of a unit are expressed as decimals.

Weight • 1.5 mL instead of 1 1⁄2 mL

L g
3. The quantity whether in whole numbers or decimals is always written
before the abbreviation or symbol for a unit of measure.
Volume
PREFIXES AND RELATIVE VALUES • 5 g instead of g 5

4. Zeros should always be placed in front of the decimal

when the quantity is not a whole number.
• 0.3 cm instead of .3 cm

I. SAMPLE EXERCISES (CONVERSION)

Convert the following :

1. 4000g→kg
2. 0.037 cm → μm
3. 6,000,000 μL → L
4. 100cg→kg
5. 32daL→dL
SI UNITS / BASE UNITS

COMMONLY USED EQUIVALENTS

AVOIRDUPOIS SYSTEM • Derived from French, and was adopted by the English as a standard of weight in commerce.

• In this system, pound is the standard unit for weighing (1 pound = 16 ounces)
• All measures are derived from pounds. APOTHECARY SYSTEM
• Oldest system of measurement
• Base units in apothecary system are grain
(weight), minim (volume), and inch (length).