This way of measuring is all based of tens, because humans(or most of them) have ten fingers. Learning the metric system and how to make convertions will be much easier if you can understand these pre-fixes.

1.  Mili=thousandth
2. Centi=hundredth
3. deci=tenth
4. Kilo= one thousand

Convertions

• Milimeter to centimeter you have to divide by ten.
• From centimeter to decimeter you have to divide by ten.
• To get from decimeter to meter yo have to divide by ten.
• To get from meter to kilometer you have to divide by one thousand.

   You divide by ten to get the larger unit because ten of the samler units are as big as the larger units. For example 10 milimeters are the same as one centimeter. It is a whole different story because you are skipping two units in between the meter and kilometer.

   The convertion rule is true with all the other measurements, millliters and liters, killograms and grams, that is why its a whole lot easier if you remember the prefixes.

   If you dont understand what I mean here are some pretty good site:

Click here!