Final answer:
The metric system has the meter as its basic unit of distance, with other units like centimeters and kilometers based on multiples of 10, allowing for easy conversion.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the metric system, the basic unit for measuring distance is the meter. Other units such as centimeters, millimeters, and kilometers are based on the meter and are used to measure distances of different scales. The use of these metric units allows for simple conversion between scales since the system is based on multiples of 10. For example, there are 100 centimeters in a meter and 1000 meters in a kilometer. Unlike the nonmetric systems like the U.S. customary units, there is no need to remember complex conversion factors such as 12 inches in a foot or 5280 feet in a mile when using the metric system.