Unit Conversions

Converting Units of Length

Metric length conversions are based on powers of 10.

Common Length Conversions:

• 1 $cm$ = 10 $mm$
• 1 $m$ = 100 $cm$
• 1 $km$ = 1000 $m$

How to Convert Lengths

If converting to a smaller unit, multiply.

If converting to a larger unit, divide.

 

Example: Convert 54 $cm$ to $mm$

$54 \times 10 = 540 mm$

Final Answer: 540 $mm$.

 

Example: Convert 12,300 $cm$ to $km$

1. Convert $cm$ to $m$: \[12,300 \div 100 = 123 $m$\]
2. Convert $m$ to $km$: \[ 123 \div 1000 = 0.123 $km$ \]

Final Answer: 0.123 $km$.

 

Converting Units of Mass

Metric mass conversions also follow powers of 10.

Common Mass Conversions:

• 1 $g$ = 1000 $mg$
• 1 $kg$ = 1000 $g$
• 1 $\text{tonne}$ = 1000 $kg$

 

Example: Convert 485 $g$ to $kg$

\(485 \div 1000 = 0.485 \(kg\)\)

Final Answer: 0.485 $kg$.

 

Converting Units of Volume/Capacity

Volume and capacity conversions also follow powers of 10.

Common Volume/Capacity Conversions:

• 1 $\text{litre}$ = 100 $cl$ = 1000 $ml$
• 1 $cl$ = 10 $ml$
• 1 $ml$ = 1 $cm^3$
• 1 $\text{litre}$ = 1000 $cm^3$
• 1 $m^3$ = 1000 $\text{litres}$

 

Example: Convert 750 $ml$ to $\text{litres}$

$750 \div 1000 = 0.75 \text{litres}$

Final Answer: 0.75 $\text{litres}$.

 

Example: Convert 1.2 $m^3$ to $\text{litres}$

Final Answer: 1200 $\text{litres}$.