Final answer:
The conversion factor from milligrams to grams is 1 g / 1000 mg. To convert mg to g, divide the number of milligrams by 1000.
Step-by-step explanation:
The conversion factor from milligrams (mg) to grams (g) is based on the relationship that 1 gram is equal to 1000 milligrams. Therefore, to convert from mg to g, we use the conversion factor of 1 g per 1000 mg, which can be expressed as the ratio 1 g / 1000 mg. When using this conversion factor, if you have a measurement in milligrams, you divide by 1000 to convert it to grams.
For example, if we want to convert 0.0034 g to mg using the known proportion that 1 mg equals 10-3 grams, we express this as a ratio of 1 mg per 10-3 g. By multiplying the quantity in grams by this ratio, we can convert the mass to milligrams.