Single Unit Conversions

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Single Unit Conversions
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Going from the unit (L) to the micro unit (µL) by
moving the decimal point
000 000 microliters (µL)

• 1 liter (L) 1
• The micro prefix µ is 10-6 times the original
  unit, so move the decimal point to the right 6
  times, making the number bigger to compensate for
  the fact that the unit is now smaller.
• UNIT CONVERSIONS DO NOT CHANGE THE MAGNITUDE OF
  THE MEASUREMENT.
• ? 100 pennies 1 dollar OR 1 penny 0.01 dollar

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Step 2

• Does your answer make sense? Or did you change
  the magnitude?
• Draw a visual representation of each unit

1 liter (L)
106 microliters (µL)
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Rule of thumb

• When converting to a smaller unit, the should
  get bigger. Move decimal point to the RIGHT.
• When converting to a larger unit, the should
  get smaller. Move decimal point to the LEFT.

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But remember this!

• Unit conversion, done right, does not change the
  magnitude! You are still talking about the same
  quantity of stuff, just in bigger or smaller
  units.

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Class ExamplesConverting to smaller units

• How many mL in 0.27L?
• 1 mL is 1,000 times smaller (10-3) than 1 L, so
  number must become bigger to compensate for the
  unit becoming smaller. Move the decimal point to
  the RIGHT 3 times.
• 0.270 L
• Answer ? 270 mL

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Class ExamplesConverting to smaller units

• How many µL in 30 mL?
• 1 µL 10-6 L (or 0.000 001 L or 1 millionth L)
• 1 mL 10-3 L (or 0.001 L or 1 thousandth L)
• Use ratios to get from µL to mL
• 1 µL 1 mL
• 10-6 L 10-3 L
• Multiply both sides by 10-6 L
  1 µL 10-3mL

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Class ExamplesConverting to smaller units

• How many µL in 30 mL?
• 1 µL 10-3mL
• 1 µL is 10-3 mL, or 1 µL is one thousand times
  smaller. If your new unit is one thousand times
  smaller, that means your number has to be 1,000
  times bigger
• 30 mL

30
000 µL
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Class ExamplesConverting to bigger units

• How many Mm (megameters) are in 19 meters?
• 1Mm 106 or 1,000,000 or 1 million meters
• The unit is now 10 6 or 1 million times bigger.
  So your number has to get 1 million times
  smaller. Move the decimal point 6 times to the
  LEFT.
• 19 m

19
0. 0 0 0 0
Mm
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Class ExamplesConverting to bigger units

• How many Gm are in 75 Mm?
• 1 Gm 109 or 1,000,000,000 or 1 billion m
• 1 Mm 106 or 1,000,000 or 1 million m
• 1 Gm 1 Mm
• 109 m 106 m
• Multiply both sides by 109 m
• 1 Gm 103 Mm
• So your unit is now 103 or 1,000 times bigger, so
  your number must become 1,000 smaller. Move the
  decimal point 3 times to the LEFT.

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Class ExamplesConverting to bigger units

• 75 Mm

75
0.0
Gm