[brettphillips]

Hi guys,

First I would like to say how thankful I am to have stumbled on this forum.  I am having a problem getting this converted correctly.  I am not looking the answer as much as the prcoess by which I would calculate this answer.

Here is the problem....
Convert 4.22 x 10^-9 meters cubed to microliters.

Here is how I attempted to answer this problem:

1) Convert meters cubed to cm3.

4.22 x 10^-9 m3 * (1 x 10^2 / 1 m)^3 = 4.22 x 10^-7 cm3
Since 1 cm^3 = 1 mL, 4.22 x 10^-7 cm3 = 4.22 x 10^-7 mL

2) Convert mL to uL.

4.22 x 10^-7 mL * (1 x 10^3 uL / 1 mL) = 4.22 x 10 ^-4 uL
because 1000 uL in 1 mL

3) Final answer .000422 uL

However, this is not coming up at the correct answer.  Where am I goofing up?

Thanks,

Brett

[enahs]

Your step 1:
There is 1000 mL in a liter, you have it as 100.

You are also forgetting about the ^3, the simplest method is to bring it inside and make that 1x10⁶

[brettphillips]

ok, I am still lost.

In my step one... the first thing that I did was convert m3 to cm3 because 1 cm3 = 1 mL.

That is why I took the original amount and multiplied by (1x10^2 cm / 1m)^3 since their are 100 cm in 1 M  When I do this, I come up with 4.22 x 10^-7 cm3, which would equal the same amount of mL.

In my problem, I never converted to L (or if I did, I dind't know it)... lol

So where is my logic missing?

Thanks for your prompt reply

Brett

[enahs]

**I made a typo, ignore this post brettphillips, or read it and learn the mistakes, but do not spend too long trying to understand this one**

You are thinking in two dimensions.

When you have the cubed you add another dimensions.

1 cm³ = 1 mL
1 L = 1000 mL = 1000 cm³
1m³ = (1000 cm³)³ = 1000L

So 4.22x10^-9 m³ = 4.22x10^-9 L = 4.22x10^-9 (1000 cm³)³ = 4.22x10^-3 cm³

And note, when I said bring the ^3 inside earlier to 6, I was mistaken. When I said that I was looking at your 2 inside, not the appropriate 3.

[Dan]

1 cm³ = 1 mL
1 L = 1000 mL = 1000 cm³
1m³ = (1000 cm³)³ = 1000L

I might be being slow, but I don't follow your maths, surely:

(1000 cm³)³ = 1L³

Not equal to 1m³ or 1000L

I would explain this as follows:

1m = 100 cm
(1m)³ = (100 cm)³
1³m³ = 100³cm³
1m³ = 10⁶cm³

ie. 1 cubic metre equals one million mL (or one thousand litres)

[enahs]

Ok, After re reading I see what you where saying.

I made an obvious typo. My bad, I suck. It was late.

I said:
"1m³ = (1000 cm³)³ = 1000L"

Now since there is obviously 100cm in a meter, that is wrong. I accidentally added an extra 0. Not only do I suck, but the 0 key on my keypad is acting up! 

It should be
1m³ = (100 cm)³ = (100³ cm³)= 1000L

Which is the same thing Dan said.
Again I suck, stupid typo!

[Borek]

...HOLD ON

I was ready to point a thing or two, but it looks like you have spotted them before I even quoted your post

[enahs]

I was ready to point a thing or two, but it looks like you have spotted them before I even quoted your post

Yeah, even when I was reading myself what I first responded with I was reading what I intended in my head, I was not reading my again screwed up extra zero or that I had already put the cube inside (copy and paste for the lose!..I should hit preview more with all the numerous superscript blocks of code). I am a tard I tell ya!

I should not post before I get my morning shower! 



*edit*
And in my defense, because nobody likes having their mistakes immortalized! At the end where I calculate it with his numbers, I still get the correct cm³  , I just kept copying and pasting the mistake(s) I made.