BASIC CONVERSION EXAMPLES

 When converting from one unit to another, it is essential to show the mathematical relationship between the units or
show the conversion working explicitly.
 To easily express large numbers we use powers of 10. This means we write 100 = 10 x 10 = 102, 1000 = 10 x 10 x 10 =
103 and so on. Thus 100,000 will be 105. Another way of understanding this is to write the number of zeros following 1
as the power of 10.

I. LENGTH

Common Mathematical Relationships between units of length are –


1
1 m = 1000 km  1 km = 1000 m = 103 m

1  1 m = 100 cm = 102 cm
 1 cm = 100 m
 1 m = 1000 mm = 103 mm
1
 1 mm = 1000 m
 1 m = 10,00, 000 μm = 106 μm
1
 1 μm = 1000000 m
 1 cm = 10 mm
1
 1 mm = = 0.1 cm
10

EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2
Convert 9.87 m = ____________ mm Convert 7,35,810 cm = _________ km
To convert from metre to millimetre, we go down To convert from centimetre to kilometre, we go up the
the stairs by three steps. This means, we multiply stairs by 5 steps. Thus we divide by 10 fives times; i.e.
by 10 three times (10 x 10 x 10 = 1000) divide by (10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10) or divide by
1 m = 1000 mm 1,00,000.
So, 9.87 m = 9.87 x 1000 = 9870 mm 𝟏
1 cm = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎 km
ANS: 9.87 m = 9870 mm
So, 7,35,810 cm = 735810/100000 = 7.35810 km
ANS: 735810 cm = 7.3581 km
 II. MASS

Common Mathematical Relationships between units of mass are –

 1 μg = 1000000 g
1
 1 g = 1000000 μg

1  1 g = 1000 mg
 1 mg = 1000 g
 1 kg = 1000 g
1
 1 g = 1000 kg
 1 q = 100 kg
1
 1 kg = 100 q
 1 t = 1000 kg
1
 1 kg = 1000 t  1 t = 10 q
1
 1 q = 10 t = 0.1 t

EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2
Convert 65.4 g = ____________ μm Convert 435 mg = _________ g
To convert from gram to microgram, we go To convert from milligram to gram, we go
back two times forward once
This means, we multiply by 1000 two times (i.e. Thus we divide by 1000 once, i.e. divide by 1000
1000 x 1000 = 10,00,000 = 106) 1
Thus, 1 mg = 1000 g
Thus, 1 g = 106 μg
So, 435 mg = 435/1000 = 0.435 g
So, 65.4 g = 65.4 x 106 μg
ANS: 435 mg = 0.435 g
ANS: 65.4 g = 65.4 x 106 μg
III. TIME

Common Mathematical Relationships between units of time are –


1
1 μs = 1000000 s  1 s = 10,00,000 μs = 106 μs

1  1 ms = 1000 μs
 1 μs = 1000 ms
 1 s = 1000 ms
1
 1 ms = s
1000
 1min = 60 s
1
 1 s = 60 min
 1 h = 60 min
1
 1 min = 60 h  1 day = 24 h
1
 1 h = 24 day

EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2
Convert 5.43 s = _________ μs Convert 60 h = _____ days
1 g = 1000 x 1000 μg = 106 μg 1 h = 1/24 days
So, 5.43 s = 5.43 x 106 μg Thus, 60 h = 60/24 = 5/2 = 2.5 days
ANS: 5.43 s = 5.43 x 106 μs ANS: 60 h = 2.5 days

IV. TEMPERATURE

 kelvin to celsius: oC = K - 273

EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2
Convert 100 oC = _____________ K Convert 310 K = _______ oC
K = C + 273 = 100 + 273 = 373 K C = K – 273 = 310 – 273 = 37 oC
ANS: 100 oC = 373 K ANS: 310 K = 37 oC
Convert the following –
1. 4.13 m = _________ cm

2. 2.3 km = ________ mm

3. 3129 μm = ________ m

4. 786 dm = __________ km

5. 320 cm = ___________ m

6. 3 t = __________ kg

7. 0.24 q = ________ kg

8. 3211 g = ___________ kg

9. 2967 mg = ___________ kg

10. 1321 μg = ____________ mg

11. 43 ms = ______________ μs

12. 8700 μs = _____________ ms

13. 3.4 days = _________ h

14. 360 min = ___________ h

15. 6.5 min = ___________ s

16. 10,800 s = __________ h

17. 0 oC = __________ K

18. 5410 K = ____________ oC

19. 646 K = _________ oC

20. 42 oC = ___________ K