| |
Example 1 |
Example 2 |
| This is a
structured way of helping you to convert units. With this method, you
can easily and automatically convert very complex units if you have the
conversion formulas. The method involves the following steps |
Convert 6.0 cm
to km |
Convert 4.17
kg/m2 to g/cm2 |
| 1. Write the
term to be converted, (both number and unit) |
6.0 cm |
4.17 kg
m2 |
| 2. Write the conversion
formula(s) |
100 cm =
.00100 km |
1.00 m = 100
cm
1.00 kg = 1000 g
|
| 3. Make a
fraction of the conversion formula, such that
a) if the unit in step 1 is in the
numerator, that same unit in step 3 must be in the denominator.
b) if the unit in step 1 is in the
denominator, that same unit in step 3 must be in the numerator.
Since the numerator and denominator
are equal, the fraction must equal 1.
|
.00100 km
100 cm |
1000
g 1.00
m 1.00 m
1.00 kg 100 cm 100 cm
|
| 4. Multiply
the term in step 1 by the fraction in step 3. Since the fraction equals
1, you can multiply by it without changing the size of the term. |
6.0 cm
.00100 km
100 cm |
4.17
kg 1000 g 1.00
m 1.00 m
m2 1.00
kg 100 cm 100 cm |
| 5. Cancel
units |
6.0 cm
.00100 km
100 cm |
4.17 kg
1000 g
1.00 mx 1.00
m
m2
1.00 kg 100 cm 100
cm |
| 6. Perform the
indicated calculation rounding the answer to the correct number of
significant figures. |
.000060 km or
6.0 E -5 km |
.417 g
cm2 |
