1 kilogram is equal to how many milligrams?

To understand why 1 kilogram is equal to 1,000,000 milligrams, it's important to be familiar with the metric conversion factors.

In the metric system, the prefix 'kilo-' means a factor of 1,000. Therefore, 1 kilogram (kg) is 1,000 grams (g). Each gram is further subdivided into milligrams (mg), where 1 gram equals 1,000 milligrams.

So, to convert kilograms to milligrams, you can multiply the number of kilograms by 1,000 to convert to grams, and then multiply that amount by another 1,000 to convert to milligrams:

1 kg = 1,000 g
1,000 g * 1,000 mg/g = 1,000,000 mg

Thus, 1 kilogram is correctly represented as 1,000,000 milligrams. This conversion is essential in fields such as pharmacy, where precise measurements are crucial for dosage calculations and ensuring patient safety.