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Measurement System in the Philippines

Sep 12, 2025

Overview

The lesson discussed the SI or Metric System as the standard measurement system, including the main units, prefixes, uses, and its importance in daily life.

Measurement Systems

  • There are three main systems: non-standard, English system, and SI/Metric System.
  • The SI or Metric System has been the official system in the Philippines since 2003.

SI or Metric System: Meaning and History

  • The SI (Standard International) is decimal-based (based on powers of 10), making unit conversion easy.
  • First used in France in 1795 to make measurement universal.

Metric Prefixes and Their Values

  • Deka = 10, Hecto = 100, Kilo = 1,000 (larger than the base unit).
  • Deci = 0.1, Centi = 0.01, Milli = 0.001 (smaller than the base unit).
  • Larger prefixes: Mega = 1,000,000; Giga = 1,000,000,000; Tera = 1,000,000,000,000.
  • Smaller: Micro = 0.000001; Nano = 0.000000001; Pico = 0.000000000001.

Measuring Length

  • Base unit: Meter (m).
  • 1 meter = 10 decimeters = 100 centimeters = 1,000 millimeters.
  • Commonly used: meter, centimeter, millimeter, kilometer.
  • Kilometers are often seen on road distance markers.

Measuring Mass or Weight

  • Base unit: Gram (g).
  • 1 kilogram = 1,000 grams; 1 milligram = 0.001 gram.
  • Commonly used: gram, kilogram, milligram (especially in medicine).

Measuring Volume or Capacity

  • Base unit: Liter (L).
  • 1 liter = 1,000 milliliters (ml).
  • Commonly used: liter and milliliter (for drinks, water).

Use of Different Prefixes

  • Mega, giga, tera: used in digital storage (e.g., GB, TB).
  • Micro, nano, pico: used in technology and scientific measurement.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • SI/Metric System — Standard measurement system based on decimal and used worldwide.
  • Prefix — Word added to a unit to indicate size larger or smaller compared to the base unit.
  • Meter (m) — Base unit of length in the metric system.
  • Gram (g) — Base unit of mass in the metric system.
  • Liter (L) — Base unit of volume in the metric system.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Answer the questions: What are the advantages/disadvantages of standard units? What other standard units do you know/use?
  • Review the chart of metric prefixes and study the different units further.
  • Prepare yourself for the next lesson about unit conversion.