unit conversions

[Agustina Santa Cruz 2F]

When converting units do you just multiply by 10^x given number or is there a different way? For example if I convert centi to giga, I multiply the number I'm converting by 10^9 and leave it in scientific notation?

[Joyce Pang 2H]

Leaving it in scientific notation would be best since you need to account for sig figs and all.

[Mina Tadros 3L]

When doing conversions, I usually use 10^x (x being all real numbers). This simplifies my conversions since I do not have to waste my time writing out the full value.

[Dane_Beasley_1E]

I think the best way is just to do 10^x. It also keeps it in scientific notation for sigfigs.

[Kathy_Li_1H]

Hi! I think it would be best to leave your numbers in 10^x/scientific notation form just because it preserves the sig figs and also prevents you from getting confused. Hope this helps!

[rita_debbaneh2G]

The most common way I see conversions presented when looking at conversion charts is essentially x•10^y. I think for the sake of leaving things uncomplicated, this would probably be the best way to go. Also, it keeps sig figs consistent.

[Mauricio Maravilla 3C]

Okay then, so I was working on a Heisenberg's Indeterminacy question and the one thing from preventing me from the answer were the units of conversions.
I needed to get my answer in meters per second but I kept getting it in

( Joule-Seconds ) / ( meters * kilograms )

After looking around on the internet it turns out that those units are somehow equal to meters per second

1 ( Joule-Second ) / ( meters * kilograms ) = 1 ( meter ) / ( second )

Can anyone explain how that makes any sense???
Thanks

[ShinwooKim_3E]

When converting units do you just multiply by 10^x given number or is there a different way? For example if I convert centi to giga, I multiply the number I'm converting by 10^9 and leave it in scientific notation?

I usually leave the answer as x 10^x!

[Giselle_zamora_1L]

does anyone have any useful tips for converting SI units for the final or is it just straight up practice makes perfect kind of thing ?

[tholz11]

I think it's best to leave it in scientific notation. Simpler and easier to check your work (-:

[JaylinWangDis1L]

does anyone have any useful tips for converting SI units for the final or is it just straight up practice makes perfect kind of thing ?

I feel like it is more of a practice makes perfect kind of thing! The equation sheet usually provides the more commonly used conversion units. Just make sure you start with what you're given and use those conversion units and make sure they cancel out. You'll be left with what you are trying to convert to. It definitely helps to cross out the units (not the numerical value) as you cancel them so you can see what units are left.

[Dane_Beasley_1E]

I agree with many of the people in this post. Keeping it in scientific notation will be best for consistency in calculations, and it keeps the answer in sigfigs.

[Bai Rong Lin 2K]

When converting units do you just multiply by 10^x given number or is there a different way? For example if I convert centi to giga, I multiply the number I'm converting by 10^9 and leave it in scientific notation?

I believe leaving it at 10^x would be the best as it would leave it in sig fig already.

[TiffanyBrownfield 2I]

I don't really see another way to do it, besides writing out the full values and multiplying them, but that wouldn't be efficient. I would definitely say to just keep it in scientific notation when performing your calculations.

[Alessia Renna 1D]

I would say to just do 10^x

[ShinwooKim_3E]

I usually leave it as 10^x.

[Morgan Gee 3B]

Whenever I do conversions, I personally always write out the units, which helps me deal with the different magnitudes of size. I do this with scientific notation. For example, if I were to convert 357 nm to m, I would do 357 nm (1 m/1 x 10^9 nm).

[805593945]

Leave it in scientific notation, it's not worth the hassle.

[805593945]

Leave it in scientific notation, it's not worth the hassle.

[Juliana Rosales 1H]

I personally just leave it

[Melissa Solis 1H]

I think the best way is to leave it in the scientific notation because then you'll have to deal with all the decimals and it gets messy.

[LeahSWM 2E]

Leave it in scientific notation, it'll give the same answer!

[Lauren Strickland 1B]

I find it helpful to leave it in scientific notation.

[Brandon Carris]

Yea scientific notation is just way simpler especially dealing with big or small numbers.

[205323697]

When we leave it in scientific notation, how many decimal places to we keep?