So here if we take a look at this example, it says, convert the following value to desired units. We need to convert 694 kilograms to micrograms. Alright. So step 1, 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 a unit after you've removed the metric prefix. So the base unit here would just be grams. Alright. So we're gonna have 694 kilo is our metric prefix, grams. We're gonna 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 gonna 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 1 on the side with the metric prefix. Our metric prefix here is 'kilo', so we're gonna put here 1 kilo, and remember that comes from what we saw up 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 gonna say, if necessary, convert 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 1 is associated with the metric prefix, it's on the same side with it. So 1 micro is, according to the metric prefix multipliers 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 times 103 divided by 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 103, 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 parentheses, 103, divided by, in parentheses, 10-6. If you do that correctly, you should get back in your calculator 6.9411 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 prefix. 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.
Table of contents
- 1. Matter and Measurements4h 29m
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1. Matter and Measurements
Metric Prefixes
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Metric Prefixes practice set
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