Final answer:
To convert 103.45 kg to milligrams, multiply by the conversion factor (1 million mg per kg) to get a result of 103,450,000 mg with five significant figures.
Step-by-step explanation:
To convert 103.45 kilograms to milligrams, we need to understand the conversion factors between these units. One kilogram equals one million (1,000,000) milligrams. When carrying out conversions, it is essential to consider significant figures. The number 103.45 has five significant figures, therefore, our conversion should reflect the same degree of precision.
The conversion process is straightforward:
- Begin with the original weight in kilograms: 103.45 kg.
- Multiply this by the conversion factor of one million milligrams per kilogram: 103.45 kg × 1,000,000 mg/kg.
- The resulting figure is 103,450,000 milligrams.
We maintain the number of significant figures throughout the calculation, ensuring that our final answer, 103,450,000 mg, has five significant figures, which matches the precision of the original measurement. It is vital to note that the zeroes at the end are significant because they come after a decimal and are counted towards the significant figures total.