Metric conversion with decimal values: two-step problem
Multiply to get the total, then step along the metric ladder. Every metric step is a factor of 1000, so the only real decision is which way the decimal point moves.
Every step of Metric conversion with decimal values: two-step problem explained on video. Pause anywhere; the embed scrolls independently of the page.
ALEKS randomizes the numbers each attempt, but the question shape stays the same. Here are three example versions you might see.
An athlete eats 0.25 kg of protein per week while training. How much will she eat during 7 weeks?
Write your answer in grams. Type just the number.
A tablet contains 1.4 g of active ingredient.
How many milligrams is that? Type just the number.
A patient takes 3 doses of 250 mg each day for 5 days.
What is the total in grams? Type just the number.
An athlete eats 0.35 kg of protein per week while training. How much protein will she eat during 8 weeks of training?
Write your answer in grams.
| Conversion facts for mass | |
|---|---|
| 1 gram (g) | = 1000 milligrams (mg) |
| 1 kilogram (kg) | = 1000 grams (g) |
The total, in kilograms
Which way to convert?
Convert it
Why the order does not matter, but the count does
Converting first works too: 0.35 kg is 350 g, and 350 × 8 = 2,800 g. Same answer.
What matters is that both operations happen. The most common wrong answers here are 2.8 (multiplied, forgot to convert) and 350 (converted, forgot to multiply) — and both are numbers a student can look at without flinching, which is what makes this question worth slowing down for.