Chapter 3.3, Problem 36SP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation : The number of minutes in one week is to be calculated.

Concept Introduction : Dimensional analysis is a useful technique for resolving problems with the conversion of measurements from one unit to an equivalent measurement in another.

Answer to Problem 36SP

There are $\text{1}{\text{.0080×10}}^{\text{4}}\text{mins}$ in exactly one week.

Explanation of Solution

To convert one week into minutes, there should be two conversions.

One week has 7 days. At first, days have to be converted into hours and then hours should be converted into minutes.

The known conversions are:

  $\begin{array}{l}\text{1}\text{week}\text{=}\text{7}\text{days}\\ \text{1}\text{day}\text{=}\text{24}\text{hours}\\ \text{1}\text{hour}\text{=}\text{60}\text{minutes}\end{array}$

The unit conversion is given as:

  $\begin{array}{c}\text{1}\text{week}\text{=}\text{7}\text{day×}\frac{\text{24}\text{hr}}{\text{1}\text{day}}\text{×}\frac{\text{60}\text{mins}}{\text{1}\text{hr}}\\ \text{=10080}\text{mins}\\ \text{=}\text{1}{\text{.0080×10}}^{\text{4}}\text{mins}\end{array}$

There are $\text{1}{\text{.0080×10}}^{\text{4}}\text{mins}$ in exactly one week.