What is dimensional Analysis?
Answer to Problem 8SGR
Explanation of Solution
Concept Used:
Dimensional Analysis is a problem-solving method that uses the fact that any number or expression can be multiplied by one without changing its value.
Comparing and converting between different units is a very useful and important skill. We do this every day without realizing it. For instance, when we follow a recipe, we may need to do simple conversions, like converting grams to ounces, or quarts to cups.
In math, we often convert a number or quantity with a dimensional unit to a different unit, like meters to kilometres.
Dimensional analysis, also known as factor-label method or unit-factor method, is a method to convert one different type of unit to another. This way, we can convert to a different unit, but their values are the same.
To convert from one unit to another, we make use of a conversion factor, which is a numerical quantity that we can multiply or divide to the number or quantity that we want to convert.
For example, if I want to know how many yards are there in 10 feet, we can recall that 3 feet is equivalent to 1 yard. Then, I can use dimensional analysis and convert feet into yards by using the conversion factor shown below in yellow. If I want to know how many minutes there are in two hours, I can use the conversion factor shown in blue.
Dimensional analysis is something that we have done without realizing it. We convert minutes to hours, or days to hours all the time. Also, if we travel to another country that normally measures distance by kilometres instead of miles, then we convert between the two units as well by using the dimensional analysis method
Example:
How many feet (ft) are there in 140 centimetres (cm)?
First, we need to determine our conversion factors.
We know that 1 ft = 12 inches (in) and that 1 in = 2.54 cm.
In this case, we have two conversion factors. If we want to convert the units all the way to feet, we must convert cm to inches and then to feet:
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