Final answer:
In the metric system, the conversion factor for changing units of length is a multiple of 10, which simplifies the conversion process compared to nonmetric systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The conversion factor for changing one unit of length to another in the metric system is a multiple of 10. This makes conversions very straightforward. For example, to convert meters to kilometers, you would need to know that there are 1,000 meters in a kilometer. Therefore, the conversion factor would be 1,000 meters/1 kilometer or 1/1,000 kilometers/meter. In contrast, nonmetric systems like the U.S. customary system use various conversion factors such as 12 inches per foot or 5,280 feet per mile. The use of a power of 10 for metric conversions simplifies calculations and is why the metric system is preferred in science and internationally.