Question

Using abbreviations and the rules of the metric system, express the following quantities correctly. Two and six tenths milliliters ______

Short answer

2.6 mL

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Metric System

The metric system uses prefixes to denote various orders of magnitude. For milliliters, the prefix 'milli-' indicates a factor of one-thousandth (1/1000) of a liter.

Write the Numeric Value

The numeric value provided is two and six tenths. This is written as a decimal number, which is 2.6.

Determine the Abbreviation for Milliliters

According to the metric system, the abbreviation for milliliters is 'mL'. Capital 'L' is used to avoid confusion between the letter 'l' and the number '1'.

Combine the Numeric Value with the Metric Abbreviation

Combine the numeric value and the abbreviation to express the quantity correctly. This would be written as 2.6 mL.

Key concepts

Milliliters

The term "milliliters" refers to a unit of volume in the metric system. When you use milliliters, you are essentially talking about liquid measurement in small quantities. A milliliter is one-thousandth of a liter, which can be visualized as about 20 drops of water.

This unit is widely used across many scientific, medical, and everyday contexts. For example, a teaspoon is approximately 5 milliliters. Understanding milliliters is crucial if you need to measure precise amounts or read nutritional labels.

• 1 milliliter (mL) = 0.001 liters (L)
• 1000 milliliters (mL) = 1 liter (L)

By comprehending such conversions, you will ease the process of switching between measurements of different sizes in real-world scenarios.

Metric Prefixes

Metric prefixes are essential tools in the metric system. They help us easily understand and express large and small quantities without having to write a lot of zeros. Every prefix represents a specific power of ten.

For instance, the prefix "milli-" implies a factor of 0.001, or one-thousandth, of the base unit. This is very useful when dealing with small measurements like milliliters (mL). Common metric prefixes include:

• Kilo- (k), which equals 1,000 units
• Centi- (c), which means 0.01 or one-hundredth
• Milli- (m), which denotes 0.001 or one-thousandth

Learning these prefixes enables you to quickly understand and convert between different scales of measurement.

Abbreviations Rules

Abbreviations in the metric system are designed to make communication efficient and avoid misunderstandings. Each metric unit has a standard abbreviation which provides consistency.

In the case of milliliters, the abbreviation is "mL." Here, "m" stands for milli-, and "L" stands for liter. It's important to note that the letter "L" is capitalized to prevent confusion with the numeral "1" since they can seem similar in some fonts.

• Always use the correct abbreviation to prevent misinterpretation
• Never add extra letters; stick to the standardized form

Following these simple rules helps maintain uniformity and accuracy in scientific and practical measurements.

Decimal Conversion

Converting to and from decimals is a frequent task when working with the metric system. Understanding decimal values allow you to express quantities accurately.

The exercise in question converts "two and six tenths" into the decimal form "2.6." Understanding that each position after the decimal point represents a fraction helps in this conversion.

• The first place after the decimal point is tenths (0.1)
• The second place is hundredths (0.01)

This knowledge is critical, especially when rounding numbers or performing calculations. Converting between fractions and decimals ensures clarity and precision in communicating values.