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Topic: A couple of metric conversions  (Read 5234 times)

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Offline brb

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A couple of metric conversions
« on: September 07, 2008, 12:03:33 PM »
i need some help i suck at conversions

210 cL=        dL
4.51x 10^3 uL=           mL
45700 cg=        kG
24.6 KL=        uL
82.4 nm=       uM

please show some work im really trying to understand this

Offline Yggdrasil

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Re: A couple of metric conversions
« Reply #1 on: September 07, 2008, 01:29:19 PM »
The first step is to figure out the conversion factor.  For example, in the first problem, how many cL are in a dL or how many dL are in a cL. 

Alternatively, it may be helpful to first convert from cL to liters, then convert from liters to dL.

When you have some answers post them here and we'll check them for you.

Offline dabaichi

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Re: A couple of metric conversions
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2008, 04:46:04 PM »
Memorizing the metric prefixes comes in very handy in conversions. For example, to convert cL to dL, you know that cL is centiliter and dL is deciliter. If you know that centi is a factor of 10 times smaller deci, you would have figured out that 10cL is 1dL.

Go search for SI prefixes and memorize them. They help very much.

Offline enahs

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Re: A couple of metric conversions
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2008, 04:50:21 PM »
When I was first learning we too had to do this. And yes, it seemed virtually every other question had the deci prefix in it.

Other then introductory questions, I have never once seen it used, either in advanced books or manuscripts. Has anybody actually ever seen it used except for questions?


Offline dabaichi

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Re: A couple of metric conversions
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2008, 05:26:11 PM »
When you do labs and lab calculations, you need to use these. Also some test questions try play trick on you when they require you to convert units back and forth.

Offline Yggdrasil

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Re: A couple of metric conversions
« Reply #5 on: September 09, 2008, 12:20:03 AM »
The deci- prefix is useful for a few different units.  For example, one liter is a dm3.  Also, sound intensity is commonly measured in decibels (dB).

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