Metric conversion where two units (numerator and denominator) are converted

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Metric conversion where only one unit is converted

Go to 10 two-unit metric problems


Doing this type of problem is simply a succession of conversions from one unit to another. You first convert one side of the fraction, say, the numerator, then you do the denominator.

Often, a teacher will present these solutions as one long string of conversions. You also see this type of presentation in textbooks. It can be quite confusing when you first see it.

This technique is called "dimensional analysis" (the older term), with "factor label method" being the newer term. DA can also called "unitary conversions," or "unitary rates." The word unitary comes from the fact that the numerator and the denominator in a conversion both describe the same quantity.

As an example, take this conversion factor:

1000 mL / 1 L

Both 1000 mL and 1 L describe the same-sized volume, so 1000 mL / 1 L is referred to as a unitary rate. Since 1000 mL and 1 L describe the same volume, we can think of 1000 mL / 1 L as being like multiplying some number by 1. The description of the volume changes units, but it still describes the same sized volume.

The ChemTeam tends to present two-unit conversion problems as a sequence of one-step calculations. However, I will also reference the one-line type presentation that is the hallmark of dimensional analysis. On a professional basis, I do not believe the one-line approach is the proper tool to use when teaching these types of problems. There are those that disagree with me.

Doing DA problems, to me, are like balancing equations or predicting products of a reaction. There are LOTS of little bits that you have to remember and, when that is the case, experience is really, really important. The problem you would face is to be able to read a one-line solution and back-track to the logic the writer used. That can be difficult, especially for a rookie.

Conclusion: lots of examples for you to study!


Example #1: Convert the speed of light (3.00 x 108 m/s) to km/year.

Solution:

1) We'll start with the numerator, since that can be done in a one step conversion.

3.00 x 108 m   1 km  
––––––––––  x  ––––––  =  3.00 x 105 m/s
1 s   1000 m  

2) Now, we turn to converting seconds to years. This I will do in a step-by-step manner. I happen to have memorized that there are 3600 seconds in one hour. So, we start with that conversion.

3.00 x 105 km   3600 s  
–––––––––––  x  –––––  =  1.08 x 109 km/hr
1 s   1 hr  

3) Continuing the calculations, we move step-by-step from hours to days and then to years (we can skip months, since we know how many days there are in a year.

1.08 x 109 km   24 hr  
–––––––––––  x  –––––  =  2.592 x 1010 km/day
1 hr   1 day  

2.592 x 1010 km   365.25 day  
–––––––––––––  x  –––––––––  =  9.47 x 1012 km/yr (to three sig figs)
1 day   1 yr  

4) If I were to present it as a one-line type calculation (the usual presentation form in dimensional analysis), it would be this:

3.00 x 108 m   1 km   3600 s   24 hr   365.25 day  
––––––––––  x  –––––––  x  –––––––  x  –––––––  x  –––––––  = 9.47 x 1012 km/yr
1 s   1000 m   1 hr   1 day   1 yr  

On the Internet, it may also be seen this way:

3.00 x 108 m/s x (1 km / 1000 m) x (3600 s / hr) x (24 hr / day) x (365.25 day / yr) = 9.47 x 1012 km/yr

5) One advantage to the above presentation is that you simply carry out the steps in sequence (divide by 1000, multiply by 3600, mult by 24 and mult by 365.25) on your calculator and then round off.

6) Doing it step-by-step results in intermediate answers along the way, but I think it's better to teach the steps rather than confront a student with the dimensional analysis method right from the start of instruction.


Notes on variations of the above problem:

1) Notice that I used 365.25 days rather than 365. Using the latter figure results in an answer of 9.4608 x 1012 km/yr, which rounds off to 9.46 x 1012 km/yr.

2) This problem can start with cm/s rather than m/s. The speed of light in cm/s is 3.00 x 1010 cm/s.

3) Often, this problem ends in km/hr. Consequently, the question you could see might ask for the conversion from cm/s to km/hr. As in, right now . . . .


Example #2: Light travels at a speed of 3.00 x 1010 cm/s. What is the speed of light in kilometers/hours?

Solution:

1) Convert cm/s to km/s:

(3.00 x 1010 cm/s) (1 m / 100 cm) (1 km / 1000 m) = 3.00 x 105 km/s

2) Convert seconds to hours:

(3.00 x 105 km/s) (60 s / 1 min) (60 min / 1 hr) = 1.08 x 109 km/hr

3) A slightly more compact version:

(3.00 x 1010 cm/s) (1 km / 105 cm) = 3.00 x 105 km/s

(3.00 x 105 km/s) (3600 s / 1 hr) = 1.08 x 109 km/hr

4) Done in DA (dimensional analysis) style:

3.00 x 1010 cm   1 m   1 km   60 s   60 min  
––––––––––  x  –––––––  x  –––––––  x  –––––––  x  –––––––  = 1.08 x 109 km/hr
1 s   100 cm   1000 m   1 min   1 hr  

The two length conversions could be combined (1 km = 105 cm) and the two time conversions could be combined (1 hr = 3600 s).


Example #3: Convert 6.43 g/mL to its equivalent in kg/L.

Solution:

1) Convert grams to kilograms:

6.43 g/mL x (1 kg/1000 g) = 0.00643 kg/mL

2) Convert mL to L:

0.0643 kg/mL x (1000 mL/L) = 6.43 kg/L

3) Dimensional analysis:

6.43 g   1 kg   1000 mL  
––––––  x  ––––––  x  –––––––  =  6.43 kg/L
1 mL   1000 g   1 L  

Comment: teachers like to ask this question on the test.


Example #4: A cylindrical piece of metal is 4.50 dm in height with radius of 5.50 x 10¯5 km.

(a) Calculate the volume in milliliters to the correct significant figures given V = π r2 h for a cylinder.
(b) Calculate the volume in mm3

Solution to (a):

1) The key to solving part (a) is to remember that cm3 and mL are the same volume, so 1 cm3 = 1 mL. So, convert both measurements of the cylinder to cm::

4.50 dm   10 cm  
–––––––  x  –––––  =  45.0 cm
1   1 dm  

5.50 x 10¯5 km   105 cm  
–––––––––––  x  –––––  =  5.50 cm
1   1 km  

2) Plug our numbers into the volume formula provided to get cm3.

V = π r2 h

V = (3.14159) (5.50 cm)2 (45.0 cm)

V = 4276.5 cm3

Rounding to three sig figs and noting that 1 cm3 = 1 mL, we have this for the final answer:

V = 4280 mL = 4.28 x 103 mL

Solution to (b):

1) The unit we need on the height and radius is mm, so convert 45.0 cm to 450 mm and 5.50 cm to 55.0 mm. Then plug back into the volume formula:

V = (3.14159) (55.0 mm)2 (450 mm)

V = 4276489 mm3

To three sig figs, we have 4.28 x 106 mm3

2) Notice that both numbers got increased by a factor of 10 and then within the volume formula, there is a total factor increase of 103 (because one of factor of 10 increase was squared to give a factor of 100 increase). That means the answer to part (b) is the answer to part (a) times 1000, resulting in 4.28 x 106 mm3.


Example #5: Convert 4.09 x 10¯6 kg/L to mg/cm3 using dimensional analysis.

Solution:

1) When dimensional analysis is specified in a problem, the usual answer desired is in the form of all the conversions gathered together into one line. I will build the final answer up one conversion at a time. Each comment with an arrow is about the last conversion in each line.

4.09 x 10¯6 kg/L x (1000 g / kg) <--- converts kg to g

4.09 x 10¯6 kg/L x (1000 g / kg) x (1000 mg / 1 g) <--- converts g to mg

4.09 x 10¯6 kg/L x (1000 g / kg) x (1000 mg / 1 g) x (1 L / 1000 mL) <--- converts L to mL

4.09 x 10¯6 kg/L x (1000 g / kg) x (1000 mg / 1 g) x (1 L / 1000 mL) x (1 cm3/mL) <--- converts mL to cm3

the answer is 0.00409 mg/cm3

2) Notice that the above conversion converted through the base unit of grams, as in kg to g, then g to mg. You can combine those two conversions if so desired:

4.09 x 10¯6 kg/L x (106 mg / kg) x (1 L / 1000 mL) x (1 cm3/mL) = 0.00409 mg/cm3

3) Here's the most-common way DA solutions are formatted:

4.09 x 10¯6 kg   106 mg   1 L   1 cm3  
–––––––––––  x  ––––––  x  –––––––  x  –––––  = 0.00409 mg/cm3
1 L   1 kg   1000 mL   1 mL  

4) Some teachers prefer the DA method for homework and test answers. Some prefer the steps to be separated (with intermediate answers shown). Others do not care. Be sure to check what your teacher desires.


Example #6a: Convert 303.0 mi/hr to feet/min.

Solution:

V = (303.0 mi/hr) (1 hr / 60 min) (5280 ft / mile) = 26600 ft/min

303 mi   1 hr   5280 ft  
––––––  x  –––––  x  ––––––  = 26660 ft/min (to 4 sig figs)
1 hr   60 min   1 mi  

Comments:

The hr/min factor converts 303.0 mi per hr to 5.05 mi per min.

The ft/mi factor converts 5.05 mi per min to 26664 ft per min.

The factors used algebraically cancel units to give the units wanted.

The final answer is 26660 ft/s. It has been rounded off to four significant figures.

Note that this example uses English units. The principles of converting are the same as with metric units.

The hr/min conversion as well as the foot/mile conversion are defined amounts. As such, they play no role in determining significant figures.


Example #6b: Convert 303.0 mi/hr to feet/second.

Solution:

The dimensional analysis set-up will be presented without comment.

303 mi   1 hr   1 min   5280 ft  
––––––– x ––––––– x ––––––– x ––––––– = 444.4 ft/s <--- 4 sig figs
1 hr   60 min   60 sec   1 mi  

Example #7: Convert 2113 km/h into cm/s.

Solution:

1) Do the hour to second conversion:

2113 km   1 hr  
–––––––  x  –––––  =  0.5869444 km/s
1 hr   3600 s  

2) Convert km to m, then convert m to cm (as opposed to converting km directly to cm in one step):

0.5869444 km   1000 m  
–––––––––––  x  ––––––  =  586.9444 m/s
s   1 km  

3) Now, the m to cm conversion:

586.9444 m   100 cm  
––––––––––  x  ––––––  =  58694.44 cm/s = 5.869 x 104 cm/s (to 4 sig figs)
s   1 m  

4) Here's the full conversion, with km being directly converted to cm:

2113 km   1 hr   105 cm  
–––––––  x  –––––  x  –––––  =  5.869 x 104 cm/s
1 hr   3600 s   1 km  

Example #8: How many grams of lead are there in a lead brick 5.00 cm by 13.0 cm by 24.0 cm? The density of lead is 11300 kg/m3.

Discussion:

We could change the cm to m and calculate the volume in m3, then use the density to get the mass of lead. Another path would be to change the density to use cm3 and then calculate the volume in cm3 and thence to the mass.

I think I will do both!!

Solution where cm is changed to m first:

1) Change cm to m:

(5.00 cm) (1 m / 100 cm) = 0.0500 m
(13.0 cm) (1 m / 100 cm) = 0.130 m
(24.0 cm) (1 m / 100 cm) = 0.240 m

2) Calculate the density in m3:

(0.0500 m) (0.130 m) (0.240 m) = 0.00156 m3

3) Determine mass in kg, then g:

(11300 kg/m3) (0.00156 m3) = 17.628 kg

(17.628 kg) (1000 g / kg) = 17628 g

to three sig figs, 17600 g

Solution where m3 is changed to cm3 first:

1) Convert density to g/cm3:

11300 kg   1 m3   1000 g  
–––––––  x  –––––––  x  ––––––  =  11.3 g/cm3
m3   (100 cm)3   1 kg  

Notice that I included both conversions into this step.

2) Determine volume of the lead brick:

(5.00 cm) (13.0 cm) (24.0 cm) = 1560 cm3

3) Determine mass in grams:

(11.3 g/cm3) (1560 cm3) = 17628 g

To three sig figs, 17600 g


Bonus Example: The SI unit for density is kg/m3. Convert the density of platinum (21450 kg/m3) to the more commonly-used unit of g/cm3

Solution:

1) Convert kg/m3 to g/m3:

(21450 kg/m3) (1000 g / 1 kg) = 21450000 g/m3

2) Convert g/m3 to g/cm3

(21450000 kg/m3) (1 m3 / 1003 cm3) = 21.45 g/cm3

Note the use of 1003. 1 m3 is a cube 100 cm on a side: 100 cm x 100 cm x 100 cm = 1003 cm3.

3) Many teachers that teach dimensional analysis want the solution in one line of calculation steps:

(21450 kg/m3) (1000 g / 1 kg) (1 m3 / 1003 cm3) = 21.45 g/cm3

Note the interim values/units such as 21450000 g/m3 do not appear in a one-line dimensional analysis presentation.

Textbooks will often present a dimensional analysis set-up in this manner:

21450 kg   1000 g   1 m3  
––––––– x ––––––– x ––––––– = 21.45 g/cm3
1 m3   1 kg   1003 cm3  

Your teacher may require it in that manner as well. One of the advantages to the above set-up is that it's much more obvious which units cancel. For example, you can clearly see the kg in the numerator of the first factor and in the denominator of the second factor.

Comment: it is easy to imagine a situation (test or homework) where, in the problem, you are given the density of a substance in units of kg/m3 but, in the problem solution, you must use the density in units of g/cm3. Consequently, I recommend that the above conversion be in your "bag of tricks."

By the way, please notice that the net effect of the above conversion is to divide the kg/m3 value by 1000 to get the g/cm3 value. if you are not required to show the conversion as I did above, you can use the 'divide by 1000" step as a convenient shortcut.


Go to 10 two-unit metric problems

Metric conversion where only one unit is converted

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