Metric units change by powers of ten: there are 100 centimeters in a meter and 1,000 meters in a kilometer. To change to a smaller unit, multiply; to change to a larger unit, divide. This fifth grade sheet has twenty conversions, half to a smaller unit and half to a larger unit, with the new unit printed after the line.
Each version has different numbers, and the answer key shows every answer.
What your child will learn
Know the metric prefixes
Multiply to a smaller unit
Divide to a larger unit
Check whether the number should grow or shrink
Common Core standard: 5.MD.A.1
Worked example
5 meters = 500 centimeters, because each meter has 100 centimeters.
Common mistake
Multiplying when the answer should be a smaller number, for example 2,000 meters = 2 kilometers.
Helpful hint
A smaller unit needs a bigger number. A bigger unit needs a smaller number.