Stage 5 · Time & measures
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: both go up in thousands. Big unit to small: times 1000, plus 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, with 0s in front if short: 2 and 050 → 2050, not 250. Small unit to big goes back 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, 6000 g, is 6 kg.
Worked examples
Have a go first, then open each one for the answer and the working.
Example 1
2000 g = ? kg
Show the answer and working
Answer: 2000 g = 2 kg
2000 g: 1 kg = 1000 g, 2000 ÷ 1000 = 2
Example 2
4073 mL = 4 L ? mL
Show the answer and working
Answer: 4073 mL = 4 L 73 mL
4073 mL: 4 L is 4 × 1000 = 4000 mL, 4073 − 4000 = 73
Example 3
4091 mL = ? L 91 mL
Show the answer and working
Answer: 4091 mL = 4 L 91 mL
4091 mL: take off the 91 mL first, 4091 − 91 = 4000, 4000 ÷ 1000 = 4
Example 4
6 L 14 mL = ? mL
Show the answer and working
Answer: 6 L 14 mL = 6014 mL
6 L 14 mL: 1 L = 1000 mL, 6 × 1000 = 6000, 6000 + 14 = 6014
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