Converting between units of capacity

Let's now look at some examples of how you would convert from one unit of capacity to another - remembering the rules noted above:

• 1 ml = 0.001 l
• 1000 ml = 1 l

Example

Convert 35 ml to l:

• We know that 1000 ml = 1 l and 1 ml = 0.001 l .
• We also know that to convert from smaller to larger units, one must divide or move the decimal point to the left.
• Therefore 35 ml ÷ 1000 = 0.035 l by moving the decimal point three points to the left i.e. dividing.

Example

Convert 4.25 l to ml:

• We know that 1 l = 1000 ml.
• We also know that to convert from a larger to smaller unit, one must multiply or move the decimal point to the right.
• Therefore 4.25 l x 1000 = 4250 ml.

Watch the YouTube video below which provides some additional conversion examples.

Math with Mr J. (2020). Metric units of capacity (Standard YouTube licence)

Test your understanding of this topic by answering the questions in the short quiz below. [Edit: this link to the quiz is not necessary]

Summary

In this unit you learnt about the difference between capacity and volume:

Capacity means how much substance an object can hold. Volume means how much space an object or substance takes. 

The base unit of measurement for capacity and liquid volume is the litre. It's important to remember that the same conversion rules apply when converting from one unit of measure to another. Converting from the smaller to larger units one must always divide or move the decimal point to the left. When converting from larger to smaller units one must multiply or move the decimal point to the right.

It's important to familiarise yourself with these rules and to understand what the prefixes mean since this will stand you in good stead when you are required to convert units of measure in everyday life, e.g. when cooking.

Attribution

The following resources were consulted in the construction of this course:

• CK-12 Foundation. (2022). Metric units of capacity. Available online here. (CC BY-SA)
• CK-12 Foundation. (2022). Appropriate metric units of mass and capacity. Available online here. (CC BY-SA)
• CK-12 Foundation. (2022). Metric system. Available online here (CC BY-SA)
• Neel Nation. (2022). Volume and capacity explained (Standard YouTube licence)
  
• Math Grizz. (2020). Metric units of capacity (Standard YouTube licence)
  
• Math with Mr J. (2020). Metric units of capacity (Standard YouTube licence)