Unit Conversion
Tuesday, December 10, 2024 6:02 AM
K 1000
King Henry Doesn't Mind Drinking Chocolate Milk
M 1
This phrase helps us remember the order of metric prefixes in the metric system: D 10
• King = Kilo (k)
• Henry = Hecto (h) C 100
• Doesn't = Deca (da)
• Mind = Meter, Liter, or Gram (Base Unit) M 1000
• Drinking = Deci (d)
• Chocolate = Centi (c)
• Milk = Milli (m)
The metric system is super easy because it’s all based on powers of 10. Each step either multiplies or
divides the unit by 10.
How Does This Work?
1. Identify the starting unit and the target unit.
2. Count the number of steps (jumps) between them using the mnemonic.
3. Move the decimal point the same number of steps:
○ Right for smaller units (down the list).
○ Left for larger units (up the list).
Examples
Example 1: Convert 5 Kilometers to Meters
• Starting unit: Kilo (k)
• Target unit: Meter (Base unit)
• Jumps: 3 steps down (K → H → D → Base).
• Move the decimal 3 places right.
5km=5,000m5 \, \text{km} = 5,000 \, \text{m}
Example 2: Convert 120 Centimeters to Meters
• Starting unit: Centi (c)
• Target unit: Meter (Base unit)
• Jumps: 2 steps up (C → D → Base).
• Move the decimal 2 places left.
120cm=1.2m120 \, \text{cm} = 1.2 \, \text{m}
Example 3: Convert 0.65 Liters to Milliliters
• Starting unit: Base unit (Liter)
• Target unit: Milli (m)
• Jumps: 3 steps down (Base → D → C → M).
• Move the decimal 3 places right.
0.65L=650mL0.65 \, \text{L} = 650 \, \text{mL}
Practice Questions
Try these on your own!
1. Convert 3,500 milligrams (mg) to grams (g).
1. Convert 4.7 kilometers (km) to centimeters (cm).
1. Convert 75 deciliters (dL) to liters (L).
1. Convert 0.25 meters (m) to millimeters (mm).
Summary
• Always use the King Henry Doesn’t Mind Drinking Chocolate Milk mnemonic.
• Count steps and move the decimal point accordingly.
• Remember:
○ Right = smaller units.
○ Left = larger units.
1. Convert 5 kilometers (km) to meters (m):
Hint: How many steps down the scale from "kilo" to "base (meter)"?
1. Convert 0.75 meters (m) to centimeters (cm):
Hint: How many steps from "meter" to "centi"?
1. Convert 1500 millimeters (mm) to meters (m):
Hint: Move from "milli" to "base (meter)."
2. Convert 8.2 hectometers (hm) to kilometers (km):
Hint: Move from "hecto" to "kilo."
3. Convert 230 decimeters (dm) to meters (m):
Hint: Move from "deci" to "base (meter)."
4. Convert 12.4 decameters (dam) to centimeters (cm):
Hint: Count the steps from "deka" to "centi."
5. Convert 0.005 kilometers (km) to millimeters (mm):
Hint: Move all the way from "kilo" to "milli."
6. Convert 34,000 millimeters (mm) to hectometers (hm):
Hint: Move from "milli" to "hecto."
7. Convert 0.02 meters (m) to decimeters (dm):
Hint: Move from "base (meter)" to "deci."
8. Convert 85 centimeters (cm) to decameters (dam):
Hint: Move from "centi" to "deka."
Let me know if you'd like explanations for solving these!
From <https://chatgpt.com/c/6760d271-a768-800e-8b7f-dc79a0797087>
From <https://chatgpt.com/c/6760d271-a768-800e-8b7f-dc79a0797087>
