Capacity and weight · Usually met around P3
kg and g, L and mL
× 1000; the small unit takes three digits.
How to do it
Method
× 1000; the small unit takes three digits
2 kg 50 g: 2 × 1000 + 50 = 2050
Full working
2 × 1000 = 2000, 2000 + 50 = 2050
In full
1 kg = 1000 g and 1 L = 1000 mL, so both go up in thousands. To go from the big unit to the small one, multiply by 1000, then add the small unit: 2 kg 50 g → 2 × 1000 = 2000, 2000 + 50 = 2050 g. A quicker way is to write the two numbers side by side. But the small unit always takes three digits, so put 0s in front if needed: 2 and 050 → 2050, not 250. To go from the small unit to the big one, go the other way. In 3400 mL, the last three digits (400) are the millilitres, and the 3 in front is the litres → 3 L 400 mL. A whole thousand, like 6000 g, is 6 kg.
Worked examples
Have a go first, then open each one for the answer and the working.
Example 1
2000 mL = ? L
Show the answer and working
Answer: 2000 mL = 2 L
2000 mL: 1 L = 1000 mL, 2000 ÷ 1000 = 2
Example 2
4053 g = 4 kg ? g
Show the answer and working
Answer: 4053 g = 4 kg 53 g
4053 g: 4 kg is 4 × 1000 = 4000 g, 4053 − 4000 = 53
Example 3
5128 g = 5 kg ? g
Show the answer and working
Answer: 5128 g = 5 kg 128 g
5128 g: 5 kg is 5 × 1000 = 5000 g, 5128 − 5000 = 128
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