Are you ready?
Multiplying and dividing by powers of 10 will help us in this lesson. Let's try a problem to practice.
Examples
Example 1
Find the value of 29.34\times100.
For each power of 10:
- 10
- 100
- 1000
- 10\,000
When we multiply or divide by these values, each digit of the number moves up or down place values according to the number of zeros in the power of 10.
Convert milligrams to grams
This video looks at how to convert from milligrams (\text{mg}) to grams (\text{g}), or vice-versa, and how to determine whether to multiply or divide by 1000.
Examples
Example 2
Convert 41.9 grams to milligrams.
To convert from milligrams to grams: \div 1000
To convert from grams to milligrams: \times 1000
Convert grams to kilograms
This video looks at how to convert between grams (\text{g}) and kilograms (\text{kg}).
Examples
Example 3
Convert 946 grams to kilograms.
To convert from grams to kilograms: \div 1000
To convert from kilograms to grams: \times 1000
Convert tonnes to kilograms
This video looks at how to convert between tonnes (t) and kilograms (kg).
Examples
Example 4
Convert 11 tonnes into kilograms.
Converting units of mass
When you convert from a larger unit to a smaller unit (e.g. \text{t} to \text{kg}), you multiply.
When you convert from a smaller unit to a larger unit (e.g.\text{g} to \text{kg}), you divide.