Kilogram in Math

Kilogram Introduction

One day, Joe’s dad learned that he was running out of some vegetables needed to prepare a special dish for their dinner guests. Busy with his chores in the kitchen, he handed a list of vegetables—potatoes, tomatoes, onions, carrots, and broccoli—to Joe.

Little Joe is perplexed by looking at the numbers and the symbol “kg” (kilograms). Let’s help him buy the right amounts of vegetables by looking at the meaning of kilogram in math.

What Is Kg (Kilogram)?

Kilogram is the SI unit of mass that equals approximately 2.204 lbs.

Definition of Kilogram in Math

A kilogram is the standard unit of mass in the International System of Units. “Kilo” means thousand, and kilogram means a thousand grams. The symbol of the kilogram is “kg.”

Kilogram Measurement

From the definition, 1 kilogram measures 1000 grams. A kilogram is almost equal to the mass of 1000 cubic cm of water or 1 liter of water.

Kilograms Examples

Kilogram is omnipresent. From the shopping list written by Joe’s dad to the measurement of jet fuel used in an aircraft, and from our body weight to the rocket payload, you can find it everywhere.

“I’m a kilogram,

Cherished with a thousand grams!

Look around you—and you’ll find me everywhere,

From simple shopping stuff to a flight through the air!”

Example 1:  5 kgs of vegetables

Example 2: Zanab weighs 50 kg.

Example 3: 1.5 kg butter

Example 4: 0.25 kg cake

Example 5: 5 kg dumbbells

Kilogram Conversion

SI Prefixes

The base unit of mass in the metric system is the gram. All other units are named by adding a prefix to gram. For example, kilogram has the prefix “kilo”, which means 1000.

Similarly, we add prefixes to “gram” to obtain other units of measuring weight.

The below chart summarizes some common prefixes.

Units	Relationship with a gram
Milligram (mg)	0.001 g
Centigram (cg)	0.01 g
Decigram (dg)	0.1 g
Gram (g)	1 g
Decagram (dcg)	10 g
Hectogram (hg)	100 g
Kilogram (kg)	1,000 g

Conversion Chart

SI Multiples (Prefixes) of Gram

We can use the below gram–kg chart to convert kilograms to SI prefixes of the gram.

We can use this metric ladder to convert one metric unit to the other SI prefixes of the base unit.

The acronym below can easily help convert between different units of measurement.

In this case of measurement of weight, the base unit will be grams.

Conversion of Kilogram into SI Multiples of Gram

Kilogram to Gram

From the conversion table, 1 kg $= 1 \times 10 \times 10 \times 10$ g

    $= 1000$ g.

So, 1 kg $= 1000$ g

Similarly, 1 g $= 1 \div (10 \times 10 \times 10)$ kg

$= 0.001$ kg.

So, 1 g $= 0.001$ kg.

Kilogram to Milligram

From the conversion table, 1 kg $= 1 \times 10 \times 10 \times 10 \times 10 \times 10 \times 10$ mg

$= 1,000,000$ mg

So, 1 kg $= 1,000,000$ mg.

Similarly, 1 mg $= 0.000001$ kg.

Conventional Units of Mass

The most common US customary units of mass are ounce, pound, and ton. The below conversion chart summarizes their relationship:

Conversion of Kilogram into US Customary Units

Kilogram to Ounce

1 kg $= 35.27$ oz

So, 1 oz $= 1 \div 35.27$ kg

$= 0.028$ kg

1 oz = 0.028 kg

Kilogram to Pound

From the conversion table, $35.27$ oz $= 35.27 \div 16$ lbs $= 2.204$ lbs

So, 1 kg $= 2.204$ lbs

Similarly, 1 lbs $= 0.45$ kg

Kilogram to Ton

From the conversion table, 2.204 lbs $= 2.204 \div 2,000$ US ton

$= 0.0011$ US ton

1 kg $= 0.0011$ US ton

Similarly, 1 US ton $= 907.18$ kg

Things that Weigh 1 Kilogram

Some things that weigh 1 kg are:

1. A liter of water
2. A 1 kg bag of sugar
3. A 1 kg bag of rice
4. A pineapple
5. A cabbage
6. A small laptop

Fun Facts

How much is a kilogram?

• In 1795, a kilogram was equivalent to a liter (or a cubic decimeter) of water.
• Later, a platinum standard (1799–1889) and a platinum-iridium standard (1889–2019) defined a kilogram.
• In 2019, the CGPM (General Conference on Weights and Measures) redefined kilogram in terms of Planck’s constant.

Colloquially, a kilogram is referred to as a “kilo.”

The US Congress legalized the use of “kilo” as an alternative to kilogram in 1866. However, it revoked the legal status of “kilo” in 1990.

The kilogram is the only SI base unit with a prefix.

Conclusion

Kilograms is the metric unit used to measure the weight of different objects. With the help of the exercises shared above, you can easily convert any unit of mass to kilograms and ace the concept of measuring weights conveniently.

Solved Examples

1. A giant tortoise weighs 550 pounds. Its weight in kg is:

Solution: We know that 1 lb $= 0.45$ kg

So, 550 lb $= 0.45 \times 550$

$= 247.5$ kg

2. Examine the below shopping list. Joe’s dad purchases the groceries and puts them in a carry bag. What will be the weight of the carry bag?

Solution: 16 kg

Total weight of the groceries = weight of the bag $= 3 + 4 + 5 + 2 + 2$ kg

$= 16$ kg

3. Joe bought a 1.2 kg cake. Tom, his friend, ate 400 g, and Jay, his cousin, ate 7.05 oz. How much cake is Joe left with?

Solution:

First, let’s convert all the given data into kg.

Tom ate 400 g cake. From the conversion table, 400 g $= 400 \div 1000$ kg

$= 0.4$ kg

Jay ate 7.05 oz of cake.

1 oz $= 0.028$ kg

So, $7.05$ oz $= 7.05 \times 0.028$ kg

$= 0.19$ kg

Total cake left with Joe $= 1.2 – (0.4 + 0.19)$

$= 1.2 – 0.59$

$= 0.61$ kg or $610$ g 

4. Joe’s kitten, Chase, weighs 880 oz. Lily’s kitten, Skye, weighs 2000 dcg. And Tom’s kitten, Penny, weighs 23 kg. Whose kitten is the heaviest, i.e., weighs the most?

Solution: Let’s convert all the given data into kg.

Chase weighs 881.84 oz.

1 oz $= 0.028$ kg

So, $881.84$ oz $= 880 \times 0.028$ kg

$= 24.64$ kg

Skye weighs 2000 dcg.

According to the conversion chart, 1 dcg $= 10$g $= 0.01$ kg

$2,000$ dcg $= 2000 \div (10 \times 10)$ kg

$= 20$ kg

Penny weighs 23 kg.

Therefore, Chase, Joe’s kitten, weighs the most.

5. Arrange the following in descending order:

1. 6 kg
2. 8,000 g
3. 2,000,000 mg

Solution: 8000 g, 6 kg, and 2,000,000 mg

First, let’s convert them to kg.

First = 6 kg . . . (1)

Second $= 8000$ g

We know 1 kg $= 1000$ g

So 1 g $= 1 \div 1000$ kg

$8,000$ g $= 8,000 \div 1000$ kg

$= 8$ kg . . . (2)

We know, 1 kg $= 1,000,000$ mg

Similarly, 1 mg $= 1 \div 1,000,000$ kg.

 $2,000,000$ mg $= 2,000,000 \div 1,000,000$ kg

$= 2$ kg . . . (3)

So, the order will be 8 kg (2), 6 kg (1), and 2 kg (3)

Practice Problems

Frequently Asked Questions