To convert from a larger unit to a smaller unit you would multiply. Ex: 5 km = 5000 m Where 1 km = 1000 m <><><><><> It depends on which factor you are multiplying or dividing by. It can go either way. To convert from ounces to grams, for instance, you can divide by 28.350, or you can multiply by 0.035273.
divide
divide
you divide the smaller # into the bigger #----
To change a larger unit to a smaller unit, you would typically divide by the conversion factor. For example, to convert 1 meter to centimeters, you would multiply by 100 (as 1 meter is equal to 100 centimeters).
you divide or multiply
to get a unit
To convert a given unit to a larger unit, you need to determine the conversion factor between the two units. Divide the given value by the conversion factor to get the answer in the larger unit.
There are two ways that are essentially the same and can be used freely - as long as the two units are of the same dimension (length, mass, time, etc.) of course.First way: MultiplicationYou multiply with the relation between the largerunit and the smaller unit, i.e. with how many of the larger unit that goes per one of the smallerunit.ExamplesIf the smaller unit is m (meter) and the larger is km (kilometer), you multiply by 1/1000 km/m.If the smaller unit is inches (in) and the larger is feet (ft), you multiply by 1/12 ft/in.If the smaller unit is µg (micrograms) and the larger is kg (kilograms), you multiply by 1/1,000,000,000 kg/µg.Second way: DivisionYou divide by the relation between the smallerunit and the larger unit, i.e. with how many of the smaller unit goes per one of the larger unit.ExamplesIf the smaller unit is m (meter) and the larger is km (kilometer), you divide by 1000 m/km to go from meters to kilometers.If the smaller unit is inches (in) and the larger is feet (ft), you divide by 12 in/ft to go from inches to feet.If the smaller unit is µg (micrograms) and the larger is kg (kilograms), you divide by 1,000,000,000µg/kg.
Divide by the conversion factor to get the equivalent value in the smaller unit.
To change from a smaller unit to a larger unit, you have to divide. For example, 100 centimetres is equal to 1 metre.
There are lots of small units in each big unit. As a result, the number of small units is greater and to go from a greater number to a smaller number you need to divide by a number which is biiger than 1.Alternatively, to change a smaller unit to a larger unit you can always multiply by a number which is between 0 and 1.