Chapter 2
Section 2.6
Conversion Factors
Conversion Factor
a ratio derived from the equality
between two different units that can
be used to convert from one unit to
the other
Quarter / Dollar Example
4 quarters = 1 dollar
How many quarters in 12 dollars?
Solution Steps:
1. Write down the given information
2. Write a “times sign and fraction bar” (x _____)
3. Put the unit you want on the top, the one to be
cancelled out on the bottom
4. Fill in the numbers
5. Multiply and divide to get answer
1. 12 dollars
2. 12 dollars x
______
=
3. 12 dollars x quarters =
dollar
4. 12 dollars x 4 quarters =
1 dollar
5. 48 quarters
Conversion Factor Examples
1. Express a mass of 5.712 grams in milligrams.
Solution:
5.712g x 1000mg =
1g
5712mg
2. Convert 6.25 kg to centigrams?
(hint: if 2 prefixes are involved, go back to the base unit)
Solution:
6.25kg x 1000g x 100cg =
1kg
1g
625,000cg
3. At the equator Earth rotates with a
velocity of about 465m/s. What is the
velocity in kilometers per hour?
Solution:
465 m x 1 km x 60 s x 60 min =
1 sec
1,000m
1 min
1 hr
1,674 km/hr
4. A chemistry teacher needs to determine what
quantity of sodium hydroxide to order. If each
student will use 130g and there are 60 students,
how many kilograms of sodium hydroxide should
the teacher order?
Solution:
130g x 60 = 7,800g
7,800g x 1 kg =
1,000g
7.8kg
Homework
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p.