Conversions in the metric system typically involve multiplying or dividing by powers of what number?

In the metric system, conversions are based on powers of 10. This structure makes it straightforward to convert between units such as meters, liters, and grams. For example, moving from meters to kilometers involves multiplying or dividing by 1,000 (which is 10 to the power of 3), and converting from centimeters to meters involves dividing by 100 (which is 10 to the power of 2). The consistent use of base 10 allows for easy calculations and facilitates the understanding of larger and smaller measurements across the entire metric system. This uniformity is what makes the metric system widely used and often preferred for scientific and technical applications.