Understanding Conversion Factors

To see all my Chemistry videos, check out
socratic.org/chemistry
Even if you can write conversion factors and cancel units, that doesn't necessarily mean that you actually understand what you're doing. Here, we'll look at how conversion factors work and what the math means. You'll understand the unit conversions that you're working on, so you'll be able to look at the answer you get and decide whether it makes sense.

[@marwanajem363]

I hate hate hate conversion factors. I swear one night I started crying while doing chem I, and I told myself that I do not even want to become a doctor anymore because if I cannot convert I cannot do anything else. Thank god to this video though!! You explain a million times better than my professor. Thank you so much Tyler!!Instead of changing my life career I will just come to your channel instead. You saved me !!

[@genesiscranston8933]

Yes, this! I feel so stupid because I just couldn't grasp the concept!

[@fatehahahmad3875]

same here 🙋🤦😭😭😭😭

[@michaelwillis9851]

no one asked

[@colincronin6774]

same bro

[@william_prescott_ii3277]

Are you a doctor now?

[@anapatino4243]

You're an amazing teacher! I learned conversion in 10 minutes, and didn't grasp it in my hour and a half class in college..thank you!

[@STFU0611]

Tyler DeWitt, for Chem 1 YOU are the only one I watch. no one else hits the spot. Thank you for doing what you do. You help low income students who can't afford a tutor. You're the best!!!!

[@heavendoors2045]

Amen

[@cortneystetson4480]

same! He's my favorite. My online chem teacher recommended his videos. haha

[@maryambinm8104]

saaaaaaammmmmeeeeeeeeeee!!!.Thank you so much Dewitt.

[@ViewingMyMind]

This sounds like a kink

[@wetkittenpaws7769]

Sir, is your back tired from carrying all these classes?

[@finnleithomczyk5292]

bruh

[@SoPrissyChrissy]

You're teaching my entire class! Our own professor doesn't do as well as you!!!!! We appreciate you, and the time you take to make each video. We are Finally understanding chemistry. Thank You!!!

[@ironcheesecake5636]

Professor I have to do this in 6th grade :(

[@rhiroyonve7517]

Same

[@yaycocoyay123]

He helped me get through chem honors my junior year and now he's helping me through chem my freshman year of college. Quality stuff.

[@tdewitt451]

i'm rounding 22.526 to 2 significant figures because there are 2 sig figs in 23 km. it's very important to understand how to round with significant figures; you can watch my videos on that topic, starting with "significant figures made easy!"

[@Boxxxxxxxxx]

You inspire me to overcome my irrational fear of chemistry and hate of being educated in general. This fear caused by not only my own negligence to applying myself in high school, but having the type of teachers that make you wonder how they ever received that job in the first place. Sitting in class after class, never truly learning, just storing knowledge that holds an expiration date and will eventually disappear from my memory. Lately, I've learned the importance of why it's so important to understand "WHY" and now I'm asking it mentally all the time. You have confirmed that importance, I believe it will lead to tremendous success. Teaching students is such a big responsibility and privilege because you have the potential to inspire or destroy future world changers. Thank you Tyler. I really appreciate your videos. I'm choosing to stay in my chemistry course this semester because of you.

[@EndrChe]

That was what I hated about college: they have no interest in learning. Their singular goal is data input, to create robots who can pass exams and move along. The problem is that the courses are designed specific to the field, so if you do not actually learn the material, actually understand what you are doing, how and why, then when you enter the real world, enter that field, the education becomes meaningless.

[@tdewitt451]

Che Marshall Wow. Well said!

[@plattapus1122]

+Che Marshall you do that in collage? I have to do it as a sophomore! XD lucky! and ya i hate it too.

[@EndrChe]

Abdur Rahman Well, I like me better than anybody else who's running! :)

[@brianlenhart9805]

but it is YOUR education, not theirs. it is your job to seek out that deeper understanding. it's foolish to think you can just show up to class and leave having mastered the material. life doesn't work like that

[@EndrChe]

+Brian Lenhart Well, you see, I am here, because I have the privilege of being able to reach this resource. Not everyone has that privilege, many, many children do not have that privilege, nor the guidance of someone to point them in the direction of life-long learning. Those children are dependent upon their educators to be that guidance, upon people like myself, and people like you, and above all people like Patrick here. It's foolish to assume that everyone has the life course that will lead them to become self-motivated, intrepid, life-long learners.

[@joliewilson1016]

Thank you so much for taking the time to make these videos. You truly have a gift for teaching and explaining things the way you do. I spent my entire college career avoiding chemistry, and just could not postpone it any longer. I am a registered nurse going back for my psychiatric nurse practitioner degree. I see how you have helped so many people, myself included, further their education. I want to say thank you for taking something so intimidating and making it very much approachable. You are helping so many people reach their career goals so they can in turn help others. Keep making a difference, Tyler. God bless you.

[@amayaquirarte202]

Hey I know this is many years later but I’m going to school to be a registered nurse if you don’t mind helping me out on finding the best path

[@thatgirlwhodidthething5836]

This will help you determine which goes in the numerator and whats the denominator: What ever unit you want to get rid of, you put it in the denominator, and what ever unit you would like to end up with goes in the numerator. So at 4:46 when it was 1ft 96in x -------- = 8ft 12 in The 1 ft went into the numerator because he wanted his answer to be in ft, and put the inches at the bottom because he didnt want his answer in inches. Thats how my Engineering teacher told us. Hope that helped :)

[@apollonmegara8220]

Lol this is what im always searching about which number goes on top and bottom. Thak you so much

[@Sam_2148]

thanks

[@andrewwest179]

I know I'm WAY LATE to the praising party... But I suffered from brain damage in late 2019... Forgot nearly EVERYTHING I learned in my math classes throughout high school and my most recent math courses. I was so terrified. I want to be a teacher, but what teacher can't remember math!? I recently began attending a new University, and YOU sir, have made things SO GOSH DARN AMAZING!!! Conversion factors hurt my head so bad, I feel like my concussion is coming back. However! You help make it simple and easy to understand!! Thank you, SO MUCH!!!!

[@sarasolei598]

I appriciate the time you put to make these videos . I'm a foreigner and I graduated 15 years ago from my high school and almost forgot everything . Anyways i decided to study dental hygiene and chem 1 was the prerequisite for this major . Eventhough I passed my tsi test but having a hard time to learn everything in a different language with different methods of teaching and not having a good professor who only reads his PowerPoints for us which we can do it ourselves too made me decide to quit studying it but your videos opened the door of hope for me and not yo give up . You are making everything simpler Clearer and more understanding. God bless you .thanks thousand times

[@Eebz515]

Its 2020 and your videos are helping me pass my chemistry class! Thank you so much, i was having so much anxiety before i found your page. May God bless you with greatness always!!

[@Brian_Moser1118]

I am starting from absolute zero chemistry knowledge and i understood this 3 mins in !! this guy is brilliant

[@ellasfunworld22]

FINALLY....now THIS makes sense!!!!! I am being taught Con/Fac by a professor with a PhD....he could not explain it so that I understood WHY I am doing WHAT I am doing!!! Ok, it's official, you're my tutor from now on! Thank you sooooo much for your help, it means a lot to so many of us!!

[@lisamcdermid9674]

The most helpful videos I have come across. I look for your videos to help explain either the background info or step by step instruction to complete an equation. I am so thankful for your videos. You are the best!!!! Thank you!

[@saradimiceli4574]

Tyler, YOU. ARE. AMAZING. I have been dreading this class! I am a 35 year old returning college student with no chemistry experience, and you have made this SO easy to understand the material! Since you came into my life I am an A chemistry student! Keep doing what you do!!

[@kRaf76]

This really catered to my learning style. 9 years later, thanks for the video brotha!

[@donnam5733]

Your videos have saved me this semester! THANK YOU for taking the time to teach other people!!! I am so grateful to have found your videos. First time back in school in a long time and taking chemistry, i forgot all the math. SO THANK YOU!!!!!

[@mommaria1968]

As soon as you said: 'I hate conversions...' I was hooked! You the man!

[@cassandraramsey3708]

you literally answer every question a student may have or ever wondered

[@wakeg40]

Dude THANKYOU! I’m 39 years old and I’m just now understanding why I can cancel things out! Always had this weird mental block!

[@anniephung8119]

BLESS YOUR KIND SOULD THANK U SO MUCH FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO MAKE THESE VIDEOS

[@toasterspoon5000]

My Chem instructor has an accent and talks fast.. so all your videos are great in addition to reading my text books and trying to understand my notes from class lectures.. Thank Tyler for taking the time in making and uploading. Liked and Subed

[@cindycook1735]

You make learning fun again. Nobody can explain this stuff the way you do. We are so lucky for your help. Thank you so much!

[@troyturner2002]

Tyler, you do such an amazing job with your videos. You have truly made a connection we me to which I understand chemistry so much more. I must have seen every video of yours in regards to chem, and these really helped pull me thorugh the semester. You have a good thing going, and I hope you remian inspired to teach.

[@racheljones9644]

I am so glad I found your channel! You are so clear and concise! Thank you so much for making these videos!

[@lilyfarseer7658]

You earned me a 51 on my test. Just FYI, I was going to bomb out at maybe a 2 without you. You brought my understanding up a lot! Thank you for these videos, all these years later.

[@MultiKatherineRose]

Your videos are nice! I am a Physics teacher and I use conversion factors to teach. It's convenient for cancelling units and for them to easily identify 'big' from 'small' units, but understanding conversion without the conversion factors for them is quite refreshing too, Thank you very much. Even your "Hey science teachers -- make it fun" video is nice. Keep up the spirit, you're inspiring us!

[@PublicSpeaking202]

I have watched your other converting unit videos and I am more comfortable with doing it then before. By the time I got to this video I was extremely burnt out BUT I loved that you took the time to explain why this method is helpful and useful. In my Principles of Chemistry it doesn't explain why and when it tells us how it is just to difficult to grasp. So thank you for this video!

[@janethuot2359]

I’m so thankful that I’m crying. I’m doing prerequisites and I understood it the first time my instructor explained it. But then now I’m lost. Thank you!!!! ❤️

[@whitewolf152]

Thnak you so much! You made this topic sound so easy, and it made me realise how easy it actaully was instead of overthinking it. Awesome lesson!

[@SurfingEagleTV]

OMG didn't even watch the entire video yet but was compelled to write a comment bc I feel like your speaking directly to me. I need to understand what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. I need to understand what the questions are asking me to do and feel confident that I know what I'm doing. Besides the just mentioned, my main issue is setting up the equation in the way that I'll get the correct answer. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH can't wait to finish watching your videos!

[@cupotea04]

Tyler Dewitt is literally carrying me through chemistry this semester. Wish all teachers had this tremendous gift.

[@Drforeverok]

Seriously. Its as if they cant relate at all to struggling students

[@tesstommasi1317]

You are so helpful!!!!! I'm finding myself coming to you every day after Chemistry class now to see how you explain things.

[@tarrant888]

Beginning my second semester of college after being a high school dropout warehouse worker for twelve years. Your videos are super helpful especially for my astronomy class. THANK YOU!!

[@ipodluvr21]

You saved my life. Literally. Thank you so much!!! You're such a great teacher!!!!

[@heavendoors2045]

I thank God for you. I am making efforts to get into a University. I have to pass tests to be considered enrolled in their degree program. Thank you for "truly and honestly" teaching throughoughly for my understanding. God bless you Tyler!

[@Amy-pe2et]

You are the Guru Tyler🙏😹. I’ve watched your other chemistry problems and never had I felt it so easy before . Thank you so much .

[@mallorymarie1141]

Amen! You put that into perspective. I’m currently taking chemistry in college and although I understand it. I often ask why? Or how?? Love this. Thank you

[@malakutwaru7943]

you are making conversions and significant figures so easy to understand! Thank you for doing this!

[@anag6273]

Thanks that helped a bunch! I love how well you put it, very easy to understand and straight forward!

[@sharondavis3535]

A comprehensive aprroach..finally that addresses the real problem of not seeing relationships. Great teacher!

[@TOTA361]

Thank you soooooooooo much!!!!! seriously you saved my life. your explanations were so easy and clear to understand. Nothing or anybody have been able to explain this to me for the past 3 weeks and finally tonight I came across your videos and yes!! i did it!!! Khan Academy needs to get some ideas from you. :)

[@treehugginmama]

Thank you so much for doing this in a conversational way and addressing the logic. I teach adult learners who are also English language learners, and I can't wait to show this to them :)

[@milagromolina990]

Can't believe this. You are so much better than my professor at explaining this topic. Thank you sooo much. This was really helpful.

[@pjnick8936]

You rock. I have an A in college algebra but this stuff has thrown me for a loop. I didn't know why until now. I was missing the why in it all. I look forward to watching more of your videos.

[@ptubbzz]

Thank you so much. I have felt the same way. Just doing the conversions without understanding why. Your explanation makes sense. Thanks.

[@shairalynnabellana5586]

Thank you for all your videos. It has been soooo helpful to students like me who sucks at chemistry. You have been a blessing 🍃. More power to you!!

[@alexandriatutores6262]

I hated conversion factors.... until this video. Im looking forward to meet my students with my new sense of reasoning and love for CF!

[@sarahclementine1414]

I love these videos! They are really helping me with chemistry stuff, thanks a bunch.

[@hcadambi1]

Fantastic video!. This is a great tool for my online students. Thanks for sharing for the love for teaching. You will be a great instructor.

[@murk5529]

I have struggled with these for a long while. This made perfect sense, thank you! :)

[@dianacarter7266]

This video is awesome I just want to thank you for taking the time out to create it, it really did help. It me helped actually understand the conversion factoring, my teacher just started us off with big problems without even explaining first; but anyways I just want to say thanks for breaking it down it really helped.

[@cairoprice8878]

SUPERHELPFUL BRO, ive always just thought through this kinda problem, now my uni require it to be displayed as you do! very helpfull stuff

[@Sanjay-yd1jq]

I took my ptcb exam yesterday and pass. I love videos like these they are a blessing.

[@nekorinnya7931]

Thanks you so much! It helped me to review for my conversion of units test! I forgot how so I watched this video and it helped me remember how to convert units! Thanks again!

[@arpinemanukyan9458]

Thank you for the detailed explanation, I did it without understanding what I was doing. Now it makes much sense to me. Thank you so much!!!!!!

[@whiteliketar]

Always always a great teacher. One of the best guys on the Internet.

[@rachelasmr5617]

Wow! You are absolutely amazing!!! I love the way you explain things

[@ricardog2271]

Thank you so much for this. I was not understanding this at all. Your explanation made all the difference.

[@bigfatbongizzy]

Thank you thank you thank you!! I've been freaking out for weeks not understanding this and now I get it! You are awesome!!

[@danny198734]

keep making them videos man, i love how you explain every single thing :D

[@Sal10305]

God bless youtube and the internet. I can learn so much with as many details in a short period of time.

[@chasitymarie7405]

This video was very helpful in helping me understanding conversion factors. I seriously hate them but atleast now it makes sense.

[@maripaznaranjo8722]

Thank you so much for this videos, I have a really good teacher yet sometimes i don't remember his explanation when i am at home studying or doing homework. It is easy for me to understand but it is harder for some of my classmates so i shared your videos with them and they have been so thankful so yea what i wanted to say is thank you so much for making this videos even though you made this three years ago yet it is still super helpful :)

[@arzezahcharles]

I love the way you teach. Keep up the good work.

[@heavendoors2045]

I agree!

[@delyvisana]

Thanks Tyler. You have got it so right. Thank you for telling me why I cancel. It sounds basic but I need to understand why I am doing something. Thank goodness somebody understands we are not robots. Keep up the good work.

[@whitneymitchell1836]

OMG! Tyler just saved my "Chemistry" Life!

[@alyssaallenbaugh9524]

Your videos are so helpful; especially since I forgot my chemistry text book at school but I have a test tomorrow.

[@CJ-fh5xq]

Thanks so man. Day 3 in Chemistry 101 in college and Im lost. These videos helped me out so much!!!!!

[@nicolehart7884]

You are soooo helpful! I'm so glad I found your account!!!

[@ProfoundWisdom602]

Dude thank you so much. my understanding for it was a lot easier than in class. I really appreciate this video man.

[@metallicaandchimaira]

You teach better than the professor at the university I go to. Thanks a lot man. I understand it now!

[@imonifountaine4075]

Love this guy! He helped me pass my Sig Fig test! 😊

[@briannasullivan3694]

Honestly helped me a lot. THANK YOU! And thanks for part 2:)

[@denissemejia101]

you are the beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeest!!!!! you've helped me in the past but this semester I will focus on your way of teaching for chem 1 and pre cal :( thank you!!!!

[@andreagriffin6834]

crying tonight!!!! this totally helped. thank you so much

[@HanonEXE]

Dude thank you so much you just made conversions so much easier for my chem test tomorrow!

[@hollyromein3196]

Very helpful :D I've been dodging these for so long but I finally came to a point in my studies where I would need to learn them :P Thanks a lot. :)

[@saulaguilar9305]

thanks you just explain me what i din't leran in the whole semester keep doing what you are doing

[@eunicemundy6869]

Tyler, you got me through chemistry & I can see that your gonna get me through my nursing entrance exam. I THANK YOU for the simplistic way you make these very difficult subjects sooooo understandable. Don’t know if you believe in God, but to me, your a GODSEND!!!

[@nyarmhamad924]

You are amazing to teach students and explain things, thank you so much

[@jeweldarling6370]

Wow! Your so awesome! Wish you were my teacher you make everything so much easier...you are a true God send...I may just pass this chemistry class after all...I was having a hard time visualizing the metrics...you totally totally ROCk!

[@johnevans3892]

Wish I would have found you at the beginning of my semister. Great job

[@yee7u5]

thanks for the video bro it made it really easy but I have to start using 10^3 & 10^2 from now on do you have any videos on those type of conversions

[@adaircomer]

I just have to say wow. I am impressed by how well you teach. Are you a teacher? If you aren't, you should be. If you are, you need to be a professor so you can teach teachers how to teach. I am a teacher and I wish I had someone explain all this to me like you did. Sometimes the hardest thing to do as a teacher is to explain the why behind the concept. It is hard because no one taught us why. We were just robots too. We have to sit down and take extra time(that we often don't have due to too much paperwork, etc.) to figure out the why before we teach it. I will be watching the other videos you made that pertain to the math standards I have to teach. I teach sixth grade. Thank you for the help. Believe me, my kids will appreciate it.

[@tdewitt451]

Many, many thanks for your comment. These kind words mean *so* much to me. I wish you and your students all the best.

[@salimcamara7331]

Im a freshman in my class and thee way my teacher was explaining this to me made no sense but watching this video opened a lightbulb

[@loiterbro]

whats up. just wanna give you a quick shoutout. your videos are very helpful and informative. my teacher uses your videos to give us online assignments in Chem honors. you seem really likable. i wish you luck in whatever career you might persue in the science feild and thanks a lot for all of your help in school

[@meganhenry5795]

Duuuudeee! Thank you Tyler! I'm taking chemistry right now and this is my struggle because I have no idea why I'm converting. My mind blanks halfway through the problem.

[@seventeeone]

Your videos are so helpful, thank you!!

[@jhansibollam4252]

tq soo much for all your efforts...... u just made the cranky chemistry damn easy..... lots of love from INDIA =)

[@Marceldbd]

You got me the highest grade in my chem class , professor said I was his best student... That's all you Tyler

[@AnaPaula1117]

You are amazing!!! Once you understand the material it is sooo much easier to solve it! The way these conversions are taught like robots make zero sense and most people don't know what they are doing. THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING AND MAKING PEOPLE THINK AND ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND! You are amazing!!!

[@blenyohannes9691]

You need to by my college professor! Im taking CHM this semester, and it's been alright but there are a lot of hard topics! Thanks and this made more sense.

[@bayankananian8115]

This is such a great video! Please keep it up! We neeeeeeed you

[@giseleg.3991]

You are a great teacher! It makes sense now! Thank you so very much : D

[@DiscoverYourGreatestSelf]

Hello, Tyler. Thanks for all the instructional videos you have made. I would be behind in class, if it wasn't for your exquisite way of describing the way to compute problems. Could you do more in conversions, breaking down and converting different lengths to mass and volume? I'm struggling. Thanks!

[@hortonsstuff6948]

He is teaching the proper way normally teacher teach to pass a test and that is why you don't remember alot even a few weeks after a test