Final answer:
When converting between Metric units, use the Metric conversion staircase to understand how many decimal places to shift. The direction of the shift depends on whether you’re moving to a larger or smaller unit.
Step-by-step explanation:
When converting Metric units, a common strategy involves using the Metric conversion staircase, a tool to guide the process of moving decimal places. Start at the unit you are converting from, then move along the staircase to the unit you are converting to. The number of steps you took on the staircase corresponds to the number of decimal places you must shift the original number. For example, if converting from kilometers to meters, you would move three steps down the staircase and therefore move the decimal three places to the right.
Metric units are based on powers of ten, so shifting the decimal point is the main strategy. Deciding where to shift the decimal and in which direction (left or right), depends on whether you're converting to a larger or smaller unit. To convert to a larger unit, shift the decimal to the left. To convert to a smaller unit, shift the decimal to the right.
Learn more about Metric Conversion