Units Resulting From Rate Calculations

Units Resulting From Rate Calculations

What Do the Numbers Mean?

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What Do the Numbers Mean?

You can get a new unit by dividing two other units. In fact, that is what defines a rate. For instance, if you divide 10 meters by 2 seconds, you get 5 meterssecond. The new unit is “meters per second.”

When multiplying and dividing units, you can cancel them out as shown here.

inches · centimetersinches= centimeters12 in. · 2.54 cmin.= 30.48 cm

 

  • Discuss with your partner why units cancel out.
  • What would be the correct unit for this equation?

30.48 cm • 0.3937incm = 12 ___

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