metric system

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Infographic comparing metric vs imperial systems: weight, volume, temperature, car speeds, length, height, track distances, and global usage.

Metric vs. Imperial converter with six color-coded sections: yellow for length, green for weight, blue for volume, orange for temperature, purple for speed, and gray for unit reference.

At a Glance

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metric system summary

metric system: References & Edit History

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	Modified link of Web site: Mathematics LibreTexts - The Metric System.	Emily Rodriguez	Sep 17, 2026
	Added media.	Rick Livingston	Oct 30, 2025
	Added media.	Rick Livingston	Sep 26, 2025
	Add new Web site: Maricopa Open Digital Press - MAT112 Mathematical Concepts and Applications - The Metric System.	Gloria Lotha	Feb 06, 2025
	Add new Web site: OpenStax - Contemporary Mathematics - The Metric System - Introduction.	Gloria Lotha	Dec 11, 2024
	Add new Web site: UF\|IFAS Extension - Indian River Research and Education Center - The Metric System.	Yamini Chauhan	Sep 20, 2024
	Add new Web site: Academia - Metric system.	Emily Rodriguez	Nov 17, 2023
	Add new Web site: South Puget Sound Community College - Principles of Human Nutrition - Metric System Basics.	Aakanksha Gaur	Sep 07, 2023
	Add new Web site: US Metric Association - Origin of the Metric System.	Gloria Lotha	Feb 21, 2023
	Add new Web site: Mathematics LibreTexts - The Metric System.	Emily Rodriguez	Sep 16, 2022
	Added material about the redefinition of the kilogram.	Erik Gregersen	Nov 19, 2018
	Add new Web site: Math Is Fun - Metric System of Measurement.	Aakanksha Gaur	May 31, 2018
	Add new Web site: Wichita State University - Department of Mathematics and Statistics - The Metric System.	Thinley Kalsang Bhutia	Jun 25, 2015
	Add new Web site: Maths Is Fun - Metric System of Measurement.	Grace Young	Apr 12, 2014
	Material about the redefinition of the kilogram in terms of Planck's constant added.	Erik Gregersen	Mar 29, 2013
	Added new Web site: The Metric System.	Gloria Lotha	May 11, 2006
	Article revised.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	May 21, 2004
	Article added to new online database.	The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica	Jul 20, 1998