A microgram is ______ of a milligram.

A microgram is ______ of a milligram.

• A. 1/1000
• B. 1/100
• C. 1/10
• D. 1/1000000

Answer: (A)

In the metric system, prefixes show how big or small a unit is compared to another. A milligram carries the milli prefix (10^-3), while a microgram carries the micro prefix (10^-6). To relate them, remember that 1 milligram equals 1000 micrograms. So a microgram is 1/1000 of a milligram. For example, 5 micrograms equal 0.005 milligrams. The other fractions would imply different relationships (1/100, 1/10, or 1/1,000,000 of a milligram) and aren’t correct here.

In the metric system, prefixes show how big or small a unit is compared to another. A milligram carries the milli prefix (10^-3), while a microgram carries the micro prefix (10^-6). To relate them, remember that 1 milligram equals 1000 micrograms. So a microgram is 1/1000 of a milligram. For example, 5 micrograms equal 0.005 milligrams. The other fractions would imply different relationships (1/100, 1/10, or 1/1,000,000 of a milligram) and aren’t correct here.