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Student’s Name ____________________________ BIOLOGY: METRIC CONVERSION HOMEWORK Instructions:
These equations are designed to give students practice converting within the metric system and between
the metric and English systems. Many equations use units that cell biologists use in the laboratory.
Complete the mathematical conversions below. Be sure to show all steps in your mathematics. You must
show detailed math calculations for ALL your answers, even simple ones and not just the formulas. *** A
significant deduction of points will be made in your score if you do not include clear calculations.
Use and cite outside scientific references to find conversion factors you may not already have. Write your
references at the bottom of the last page. *** A deduction will be made if your references are missing.
*** Assignments submitted with handwriting are not acceptable. – Any changes to
the instructions for an assignment must be consulted with your instructor and
approved by your instructor before submitting your assignment. Handwriting in your
assignments is not acceptable for important reasons. All lab assignments must be submitted
exactly in their original format, which is “Word” and this means using the word processor and
its tools to type your assignment. Typing simple math calculations is not as difficult as it may
seem. If we allow a student to do an assignment in handwriting, we must do it for all students,
as any exceptions to the policies or requirements must be made available to all students. This
may bring an inconvenient situation since not everybody has clear, easy to read handwriting,
photographed or scanned documents may not be as clear as a typed, Word document, and it
would make grading more time-consuming and difficult. Please remember that instructors
frequently have multiple classes with many students as well as other responsibilities and we
want to grade the work of all students on a timely manner. We need the cooperation of the
students in following instructions and submitting work that is completely clear in order to be
able to grade their work within a reasonable time frame. – Thank you! Use this chart as a starting point. Source: Creative Commons: http://rushartsbiology.wikispaces.com/Visuals+-+Unit+1 qattachments_72be4f7208acd549fd19eb6295fcba6ff5dc04fa.docx
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Page 3 of 7 A) Length
*** Remember to show your calculations clearly next to your answers,
even the simplest calculations must be shown, not just the formulas! 1) 1 meter = 100 cm 2) 100 mm = 100,000μm 100mm=x/1000=100x1000=100,000 3) 5.4 μm =.0000054m 5.4 μm = m/1e-06=5.4x5.4e-6=.0000054 4) 3.2 inches = 81.28mm in x 25.4mm=3.2inx 25.4mm= 81.28 5) 435 mm = 1.4271feet mm x .0032808 = 435 x .0032808 = 1.4271 6) 100 mm = 3.9370inches mm x .039370 = 3.9370 7) 20 μm = .000787402inches μm x 3.9370079e-05 = 20 x 3.9370079e-05= .000787402 8) 5.5 in = 13.97cm in x 2.54 = 5.5 x 2.54 = 13.97 B) 1=x/100=1x100=100cm Weight*** Remember to show your calculations clearly next to your answers! 9) 1 kg = 1000g g=kg/.001 = 1kg= 1,000 10) 300 ng = .0003mg mg= ng/.000001= .0003 11) 55 μg = .000055g 12) 600 ng = 600,000μg μg=g/1e-06= 55 μg= .000055
ng= 1000 x μg = 600,000 μg qattachments_72be4f7208acd549fd19eb6295fcba6ff5dc04fa.docx
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13) 7 ½ pounds = 3.4kg kg= lb/2.2046= 7.5/2.2046 = 3.4 14) 8 oz = 226796.2mg mg= oz/3.527392e-05= 8/3.5273962e-05= 226796.2 15) 0.5 oz = 1.417476e+7μg μg= 2.834952e+7= .5 x 2.834952e+7= 1.417476e+7 16) 535 μg = ___________ fg C) Volume *** Remember to show your calculations clearly next to your answers! 17) 100 mL = ___________ Liters 18) 0.3 L = _____________ mL 19) 450 μL = ____________ mL 20) 3.0 Tbsp = ___________ tsp 21) 2.5 gallon = __________ L 22) 0.75 L = _____________ Tbsp 23) 1750 μL = ___________ tsp 24) 0.450 mL = __________ μL 25) 2 tsp = _____________ mL qattachments_72be4f7208acd549fd19eb6295fcba6ff5dc04fa.docx
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Page 6 of 7 D) Temperature *** Remember to show your calculations clearly next to your answers! 26) 75 F = _____________ C 27) 37 C = _____________ F 28) 37 C = _____________ K 29) 2 C = _____________ F
30) -30 F =____________ C 31) 300 K = _____________F 32) 212 F ______________ C 33) 96 C = _____________ F
34) 162 F = _____________ C
35) 17.7 C = ____________ F LIST OF REFERENCES – Write at least three scientific references below in APA format.
Example: Science Made Simple, Inc. (n.d.) Metric conversions & US customary unit conversion
calculator. Retrieved from http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/conversions.html
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Page 7 of 7 EXAMPLES OF MEASUREMENT CONVERSIONS
1) Note that in some cases when it is convenient, your calculations and answers can be
expressed in scientific notation.
2) *** Your calculations should be completely clear and look similar to these examples.
EXAMPLE 1 – Length
Problem: 33 mm = ____?____ inches
Conversion factors or units: 1 mm = 0.0393701 inch
Calculation: 33 mm 0.0393701 inch = 1.2992 inches
ANSWER: 33 mm = ___1.2992___ inches – Note that we can round the result to 1.30 inches. EXAMPLE 2 – Weight
Problem: 500 ng = ____?____ mg
Conversion factors or units: nano = 10—9; milli = 10--3; 1 ng = 1 10--6 mg, or 0.000001 mg
Calculation: (500 ng) 0.000001 mg = 0.0005 mg = 5 10--4 mg
1 ng ANSWER: 500 ng = ___0.0005___ mg = 5 10--4 mg EXAMPLE 3 – Temperature
Problem: 25 C = ____?____ F
Conversion factors or units: F = ( C 9/5) + 32
Calculation: F = (25 C 9/5) + 32
ANSWER: 25 C = ___77 ___ F (Note: 9/5 is equal to 1.8)