Expert: Paul Klarreich - 2/22/2006

Question
Is there a formula for converting mg/dl into percent?

Answer
Hi, Karen,
You wrote:
Question:  Is there a formula for converting mg/dl into percent?

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You have to make an assumption here.  The problem is that mg (milligrams?) is a unit of mass (or weight for us non-physicists) and dl (deciliters?) is a unit of volume.

You can convert deciliters into mass by assuming you mean deciliters of water.  Then, for water, we make the conversion:

1 ml = 1 gram, or
1 liter = 1000 grams, or
1 deciliter = 100 grams.

So if you have  x mg of 'stuff' dissolved in 1 deciliter of water, you have  x/1000 grams in 100 grams, so this is:

x/1000 divided by 100 grams or  x/100000, which is

x/1000 percent.

[Not much, I see.]