Questions on Word Problems: Unit Conversion answered by real tutors!

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(8 quarts)*(1 gallon)/(4 quarts)=2 gallons.
Note that by multiplying 8 quarts by (1 gallon)/(4 quarts), we are just multiplying by 1. However, the "quarts" units cancel leaving only gallons.

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
My question asks me to show how to convert 8 quarts to gallons using a unit multiplier. (1 gal = 4 qt)
I know the answer but I am having trouble writing the conversion.

Put  over 



Now we use  to make a unit fraction, that is,
one which equals 1.  We have to choose which of these unit 
fractions we need to multiply by.  Our choices are the unit
fractions  and .  We will choose the one with  
on the bottom to multiply by, so that it will cancel 
with the  in the numerator. So we multiply by 



Now we cancel the 's:



We can also cancel the  into the  and get 
 


That leaves



or



Edwin