Metric Units and Conversions - Unitec

METRIC UNIT CONVERSIONS
You may need to do metric unit conversions with drug calculations or with rates. In both
cases you need to know :
What metric unit you have initially and which unit you want to convert to
Whether you are converting from a Bigger unit (B) to a Smaller unit (S)
or the other way round
How many of the smaller units make up the bigger unit
If converting from a Bigger unit to a Smaller unit, you are multiplying so move the decimal
point to the Right by how many zeroes there are in the multiplier, i.e. BSR
If converting from a Smaller unit to a Bigger unit, you are dividing so move the decimal
point to the Left by how many zeroes there are in the divisor, i.e. SBL
EXAMPLES
1. How many micrograms (mcg) in 2.8 mg?
Remember mcg is the same as g
converting from mg to mcg
bigger to smaller so BSR
1 mg = 1000 mcg so move decimal point three places to the right
(since 1000 has three zeroes)
2.8 mg = 2800. g which is 2800 g
2. 965 dL is equivalent to how many mL?
converting from dL to mL
bigger to smaller so BSR
1 dL = 100 mL so move the decimal point two places to the right
965 dL = 965. dL = 96500. mL which is 96500 mL
3. How many grams in 750 g ?
converting mcg to g
smaller to bigger so SBL
1g = 1,000,000 mcg so move the decimal point six places to the left
750 mcg = 750. mcg = .000750 g
Unitec: H:\Te Puna Ako Learning Centre\Maths and Statistics Resources\updated\Metric Units.doc