The metric system is easy to learn and simply to use. There are only a few basic units, and they are generally related to each other by simple factors of 10. The metric system has a single unit for weight (grams), volume (litres), and another for length (metres). Smaller and larger units can be modified with a prefix. For example, kilo means 1000 times bigger, so a kilogram is 1000 grams and a kilometer is 1000 metres.
Metric Abbreviations
| Metric Base Unit Abbreviation | Other Common Metric Abbreviations |
| litre, L | millilitre, mL |
| gram, g | kilogram, kg |
Common Metric Equivalents in the Food-Service Industry
| Weight (Mass) | Volume (Liquid) |
| 1 gram = 1000 milligrams | 1000 milliliters = 1 litre |
| 1000 grams = 1 kilogram |
Conversions between U.S. Standard and Metric Measurements
| Weight Conversion between U.S. Standard Measure and Metric | Volume Conversion between U.S. Standard Measure and Metric |
| 1 ounce = 28.35 grams | 1 litre = 33.8 fluid ounces |
| 1 kilogram = 2.21 pounds |
Example 1
Convert 24 fluid ounces of concentrate to litres and then millilitres.
Solution
\[24\, fl.oz. \times \frac{1 L}{33.8\, fl.oz.} = 0.7101L\qquad (rounded\, to\, 4\, decimal\, places)\]
\[0.7101L \times \frac{1000mL}{1L} = 710.1mL \qquad (rounded\, to\, 1\, decimal\, place)\]
Example 2
Convert 15 pounds to kilograms.
Solution
\[15\, lbs \times \frac{1 \,kg}{2.21\, lbs} = 6.7873 kg \qquad (rounded\, to\, 4\, decimal\, places)\]
