Conversion Factors

and
Unit Cancellation
A physical quantity must include:

Number + Unit
Calculation Corner: Unit Conversion

1 foot = 12 inches
Calculation Corner: Unit Conversion

1 foot = 12 inches

1 foot
= 1
12 inches
Calculation Corner: Unit Conversion

1 foot = 12 inches

1 foot
= 1
12 inches

12 inches
= 1
1 foot
Calculation Corner: Unit Conversion

1 foot 12 inches
12 inches 1 foot
“Conversion factors”
Calculation Corner: Unit Conversion

1 foot 12 inches
12 inches 1 foot
“Conversion factors”

12 inches
( 3 feet
)( 1 foot ) = 36 inches
 How many cm are in 1.32 meters?

equality: 1 m = 100 cm (or 0.01 m = 1 cm)

applicable conversion factors:

______
1m or 100 cm
______
100 cm 1m

(
X cm = 1.32 m ______ )
100 cm = 132 cm
1m

We use the idea of unit cancellation

to decide upon which one of the two
conversion factors we choose.
 How many meters is 8.72 cm?

equality: 1 m = 100 cm
applicable conversion factors:

______
1m or 100 cm
______
100 cm 1m

(1m
X m = 8.72 cm ______
100 cm )
= 0.0872 m

Again, the units must cancel.

How many feet is 39.37 inches?

equality: 1 ft = 12 in
applicable conversion factors:

______
1 ft or ______
12 in
12 in 1 ft

X ft = 39.37 in ( )
____
1 ft
12 in
= 3.28 ft

Again, the units must cancel.

How many kilometers is
15,000 decimeters?

( )(
1m
X km = 15,000 dm ____
10 dm
1 km
______
1,000 m )
= 1.5 km
 How many seconds
is 4.38 days?

( )(
24 h
X s = 4.38 d ____
1d
60 min
_____
1h )( ) 60 s
____
1 min
= 378,432 s

If we are accounting for significant

figures, we would change this to… 3.78 x 105 s
 Simple Math
with
Conversion Factors
 Example Problem

Measured dimensions of a rectangle:

length (L) = 9.70 cm
width (W) = 4.25 cm

Find area of rectangle.

A=L.W L

= (9.70 cm)(4.25 cm)

= 41.2 cm2. cm
W
 Convert 41.2 cm2 to m2.

( 1m
X m2 = 41.2 cm2 ______
100 cm )
= 0.412 m2 WRONG!

= 0.412 cm.m

Recall that… 41.2 cm2 = 41.2 cm.cm

X m2 = 41.2 cm.cm
(1m
______
100 cm )( 1m
______
100 cm )
= 0.00412 m2

( 1m
X m2 = 41.2 cm2 ______
100 cm )2
= 0.00412 m2
 Convert 41.2 cm2 to mm2.

Recall that… 41.2 cm2 = 41.2 cm.cm

X mm2 = 41.2 cm.cm 10 mm

_____
1 cm
( )( 10 mm
_____
1 cm
)
= 4,120 mm2

X mm = 41.2 cm
2 2
(
10 mm
_____
1 cm
)
2
= 4,120 mm2
Measured dimensions of a rectangular solid:
Length = 15.2 cm
Width = 3.7 cm
Height = 8.6 cm H
Find volume of solid. W
L
V=L.W.H
= (15.2 cm)(3.7 cm)(8.6 cm)

= 480 cm3
Convert to m3.
cm.cm.cm
1m
(
X m3 = 480 cm32 _____
100 cm )( 1m
_____
100 cm )( 1m
_____ =
100 cm )
or

( )
3
X m = 480 cm
3 3 1m
_____ = 0.000480 m3
100 cm
or

( )
3
X m = 480 cm
3 3 _________
1m = 4.80 x 10-4 m3
3
1000000 cm
Convert to m3...
Measured dimensions of a rectangular solid:
Length = 15.2 cm 0.152 m
Width = 3.7 cm 0.037 m
Height = 8.6 cm 0.086 m H

Find volume of solid. W

L
V=L.W.H
= (0.152 m)(0.037 m)(0.086 m)

= 0.000480 m3
Convert to mm3.
 By what factor do mm and cm differ?
10
1 cm = 10 mm

By what factor do mm2 and cm2 differ?

100
1 cm
(1 cm)22==100
(10 mm
mm)2 2
By what factor do mm3 and cm3 differ?
1,000

1 cm
(1 cm)3 3==1000 mm33
(10 mm)