Exercise 1. Convert 0.0043 mg to g.

Answer: 0.0000043 g

or in scientific notation 4.3 x 10^-6 g

Solution

There are 1000 mg in 1 g

The two conversion factors are:

\(\frac{1000mg}{1g}\qquad or \qquad \frac{1g}{1000 mg}\)

We use the conversion factor that will cancel out mg so that we are left with g.

\(\require{cancel}0.0043 \cancel{mg}\times\frac{1g}{1000\cancel{mg}}\;=\;0.0000043\;g\;= \;4.3\times10^{-6}\;g\)

Again, we divide by 1000 when converting from mg to g.