Question #75f5c

1 Answer
Oct 22, 2014

Eventually, this will become second-nature to you. However, until then you need to train yourself to first plan the route your conversion will take.

For example, I want to convert 1.25 quarts of water to milliliters.

You kind of have to start with what you are given. In this case, quarts. My plan would look something like this:

quarts #rarr# liters #rarr# milliliters

Each of the arrows in the plan is a conversion factor.

The BASE of the arrow is the factor on the BOTTOM. The TIP of the arrow is the factor on the TOP. So for the conversion factor to convert quarts to liters, the factor would look like this:

1.00 liters #//# 1.056688 quarts

And there are, of course, exactly 1000 ml in 1 liter

1000 ml #//# 1 liter

So the conversion is:

1.25 quarts * 1.00 liters #//# 1.056688 quarts * 1000 ml #//# 1 liter

= 1182.94 ml = 1180 ml.

You can apply this technique to any conversion factor problem.

Now go ahead and try a couple!