So here. If we take a look at this example, it says convert the following value to the desired units. We need to convert 694 kilograms to micrograms. All right. So step one, if the given value has a metric prefix, which it does because Kilo is our metric prefix, then convert it to the base unit. The base unit is just the unit after you've removed the metric prefix O. The base unit here will just be grants.
All right. So we're going to have 694K is our metric prefix grams. We're going to say in order to cancel out, units always make sure that they are on opposite levels. So we want to cancel out these kilograms which are on the top. So we're going to place kilograms here on the bottom and then we need to change this into our base units of grams. Now the next part is important. Always place the coefficient of one on the side with the metric prefix. Our metric prefix here is Kilo, so we're going to say here 1K. And remember that comes from what we saw U above.
Based on the metric prefix multipliers chart, we saw that when it is kilo, it's 103, so it'd be 103. Now, because the kilograms are on opposite levels, they can cancel out. Next we're going to say, if necessary, convert the metric, the base unit, to a new metric prefix. Now, we didn't ask to find our answer in grams, we're asked to find it in micrograms, so we must continue onward. Grams are here on the top. In order to cancel them out, I put them here on the bottom and then we need to get to micrograms.
Micro is our metric prefix and then micrograms. Again, the coefficient of one is associated with the metric prefixes on the same side with it. So one micro is. According to the metric prefix multiplier's chart above, it's 10-6. So now grams cancel out and we'll have at the end our value. So here that would be 694 * 103 / 10-6. Now some of you depending on your calculator, if you plug it in as you see it, you might get the wrong answer. So anytime you have 10n to a power, it's always best to put it in parentheses in your calculator, otherwise you may get the incorrect answer.
So it'd be 694 times in ( 103 divided by in ( 10-6. If you do that correctly, you should get back in your calculator 6.94 * 1011 micrograms as your answer, and this represents our metric prefix conversions. We're just going from a metric prefix to either the base unit or a new metric refix. Take to heart the steps that we've outlined here to approach any problem like this. Now that we've done this example question, move on to some practice questions.