EXAMPLE 1 Converting Metric Units of Length Running

EXAMPLE 1 Converting Metric Units of Length Running In the 4 800 meter relay race, four teammates each run 800 meters. The total length of the race is 3200 meters. How many kilometers long is the race?

EXAMPLE 1 Converting Metric Units of Length To find the length in kilometers of the relay race, convert 3200 meters to kilometers. SOLUTION You are converting from a smaller unit (meters) to a larger unit (kilometers), so divide by a power of 10. From meters to kilometers, the decimal point is moved 3 places to the left, so divide by 103, or 1000. 3200 1000 = 3. 2 3200 meters = 3. 2 kilometers ANSWER The 4 800 meter relay race is 3. 2 kilometers long.

EXAMPLE 2 Converting Units of Mass and Capacity Copy and complete the statement. a. 15 g = ? mg b. 590 m. L = ? L SOLUTION a. To convert from grams to milligrams, multiply by 1000. 15 1000 = 15, 000, so 15 g = 15, 000 mg. b. To convert from milliliters to liters, divide by 1000. 590 1000 = 0. 59, so 590 m. L = 0. 59 L.

GUIDED PRACTICE for Examples 1 and 2 Copy and complete the statement. 1. 6800 m = ? km ANSWER 6. 8 2. 54 m = ? ANSWER 3. 830 cm = ANSWER mm 54, 000 ? 8. 3 m

GUIDED PRACTICE for Examples 1 and 2 Copy and complete the statement. 4. 115 mm = ? ANSWER 11. 5 5. 9. 25 k. L = ? ANSWER 6. 100 g = cm L 9250 ? ANSWER kg 0. 1