Final answer:
To convert the diameter of a paramecium from millimeters to micrometers, multiply by 1000. Thus, a diameter of 0.12mm is equivalent to 120μm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student observed that a paramecium has a diameter of 0.12mm and needs to convert this measurement to micrometers (μm). We know that 1 millimeter (mm) is equal to 1000 micrometers (μm). Therefore, to convert millimeters to micrometers, the value in millimeters must be multiplied by 1000.
Conversion:
0.12 mm * 1000 = 120 μm
So, the diameter of the paramecium in micrometers is 120 μm.