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Unit 2 Methods of Converting



How do you know which way to move the decimal point (whether to divide or multiply) when converting from one unit of the metric system to another? Just follow the directions.
millimeter (÷ 1000) to metermeter (x1000) to millimeter
1000 mm = 1 m1m = 1000 mm
← 3 places3 places→
1000 m = 1 km1 km = 1000 m
meter (÷ 1000) to kilometerkilometer (x1000) to meter


Let us look at converting from millimeters (mm) to meters (m) by:





cross-multiplying counting places
1 meter = 1000 millimeters 1 meter = 1000 millimeters
1 m = 1000 mm Since 1000 mm to 1m means divide by 1000
3400 mm = ? m (1000 ÷ 1000 = 1), we can see we could just
using variable "g" instead of "?" count the number of places we need to move the
 1  = 1000 decimal to the left when converting from mm to m
 g  3400 It is 3 places to the left, so 3400 mm = 3↑4↑0↑0 or 3.400 m


1000g = 1(3400)

1000g = 3400   so g = 3.4 m



Let us look at converting from meters (m) to millimeters (mm) by:





cross-multiplying counting places
1 meter = 1000 millimeters 1 meter = 1000 millimeters
1 m = 1000 mm Since 1 m to 1000 mm means multiply by 1000
5 m = ? mm (1.0 x 1000 = 1000.0), we can see we could just
using variable "y" instead of "?" count the number of places we need to move the
 1  = 1000 decimal to the right when converting from m to mm
 5   y It is 3 places to the right, so 5 m or 5.0 = 5↑0↑0↑0↑ or
  5000 mm
y(1) = 5(1000)   y = 5000 mm



Let us look at converting meters (m) to kilometers (km) by:




cross-multiplying counting places
1000 meters = 1 kilometer 1000 meters = 1 kilometer
1 km = 1000 m Since1000 m to 1 km means divide by 1000
? km = 7860 mm (1000 ÷ 1000 = 1), we can see we could just
using variable "w" instead of "?" count the number of places we need to move the
 1  = 1000 decimal to the left when converting from m to km.
 w  7860 It is 3 places to the left, so 7860 m = 7↑8↑6↑0↑ or 7.86 km.


1000w = 1(7860)

1000w = 7860

1000w ÷ 1000 = 7860 ÷ 1000

w = 7.86 km



Let us look at converting kilometers (km) to meters (m) by:




cross-multiplying counting places
1 meter = 1000 millimeters 1 meter = 1000 millimeters
1 m = 1000 mm Since 1 m to 1000 mm means multiply by 1000
4.08 km = ? m (1.0 x 1000 = 1000.0), we can see we could just
using variable "b" instead of "?" count the number of places we need to move the
 1  = 1000 decimal to the right when converting from km to m
4.08   b It is 3 places to the right, so 4.08 km = 4↑0↑0↑0↑ or
  4080 m
b(1) = 4.08(1000)

b = 4080 m

Picturing whether it is a great distance, such as kilometers from Earth, or a short distance, such as millimeters from the tip of your nose, can help you with conversion.

The shuttle kilometers above Earth   Leg spread a meter apart   Missed being a meal by meters   Millimeters are close by a whisker shuttle many kilometers from earthIf this were a person standing like this, his feet would be about a meter apartjust made it to shore safely by a few metersmillimeters is how close "by a whisker" looks
If you believe you understand converting, go to Unit 3 Practice Converting otherwise return to Unit 2 Methods of converting

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