Think Ahead 1 Answers
Metrics
To prepare for the next week of class, you should fully understand and be able to answer the
following questions. You can check your answers with the answer key posted on your
instructor’s website or O drive to be sure you are correct. You can get help with this work from:
•
•
•
•
your instructor during office hours
the Algebra Alcove in Jones 147
the MAC (the Math Assistance Center) in BH 700
online tutorials such as http://www.aaamath.com/mea.html#topic50
1. Write each term in the appropriate blank: gram, liter, meter
In the metric system, the standard unit for length is the __ meter _______. The standard unit for
volume is the __ liter ___, and the standard unit for mass is the __ gram ______ .
2. Complete the table:
prefix
symbol meaning
Scientific
Example with Example
Example
notation
length
with volume
with mass
Giga-
G
1,000,000,000
109
kilo-
k
1,000
103
kilometer
kiloliter
kilogram
-----
---
meter
liter
gram
----centi-
c
1/100
10-2
centimeter
centiliter
centigram
milli-
m
1/1000
10-3
millimeter
milliliter
milligram
micro- u
1/1000000
10-6
micrometer
microliter
microgram
nano-
n
1/1000000000
10-9
nanometer
nanoliter
nanogram
pico-
p
1/000000000000 10-12
picometer
picoliter
picogram
3. Convert each of the following:
a. 1 meter to centimeters 100cm
4. Convert each of the following:
a. 15 nanometers to micrometers 0.015um
b. 10 liters to milliliters 10,000ml
b. 350 milligrams to grams 0.35g
c. 10 milliliters to nanoliters
c. 7.5 micrometers to millimeters
10,000,000nl
d. 20 micrometers to nanometers
20,000nm
0.0075mm
d. 350 milligrams to kilograms 0.00035kg
5. Fill in the blanks: When converting one quantity to an equivalent quantity in smaller units
(e.g. liters to milliliters) move the decimal to the __right____ . When converting one quantity to
an equivalent quantity in larger units (e.g. micrometers to millimeters) move the decimal to the
__left___ .
6. Circle the smaller quantity in each pair. Do not use a calculator.
a) 10 millimeters; 10 micrometers
b) 10 millimeters; 1000 micrometers
c) 75 nanograms; 7.5 micrograms
d) 1500 milliliters; 1 liter
e) 0.75 milliliters; 7.5 centiliters
7. Circle the larger quantity in each pair. Do not use a calculator.
a) 10 mm; 10 um
b) 10 um; 100 nm
c) 60 pg; 600 ng
d) 15 ml; 1500 L
e) 3.5 mg; 0.35 g