SOLUTION: I am having trouble will conversions and I was given this problem to solve. They give you a lot to go off of, but I don't know where to start or better yet what to start with. I as

Algebra ->  Algebra  -> Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Unit conversion -> SOLUTION: I am having trouble will conversions and I was given this problem to solve. They give you a lot to go off of, but I don't know where to start or better yet what to start with. I as      Log On

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Question 237387: I am having trouble will conversions and I was given this problem to solve. They give you a lot to go off of, but I don't know where to start or better yet what to start with. I assume it wont matter which unit you start with, but then I wasn't sure so here's the problem I was given:
"Kay wants to buy a new fireplace insert that will burn gas instead of wood. She normally uses two cords of wood in the winter. Wood costs $250/cord. She is interested in knowing how much she will save if she burns gas in the fireplace insert. Gas costs $0.70 per therm. One therm is 100,000 BTU. The fireplace insert burns 33,000 BTU per hour. Kay figures she will burn the fireplace 5 hours per day for 120 days. How much will she save in one winter if she burns gas instead of wood?"
It seems like you have to do a lot of conversions, but is there a simpler way to do it or do you have to do every conversion they listed? If anyone has an idea on how to solve this that would be very much appreciated!
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(7696) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
"Kay wants to buy a new fireplace insert that will burn gas instead of wood.
She normally uses two cords of wood in the winter. Wood costs $250/cord.
She is interested in knowing how much she will save if she burns gas in the fireplace insert.
Gas costs $0.70 per therm. One therm is 100,000 BTU. The fireplace insert burns 33,000 BTU per hour.
Kay figures she will burn the fireplace 5 hours per day for 120 days. How much will she save in one winter if she burns gas instead of wood?"
:
Find the cost when she uses wood: 2 * 250 = $500
:
Find the cost per hr using gas
33000%2F100000 *.70 = $0.231 per hr
:
5 hrs a day for 120 days
120 * 5 * .231 = $138.60
:
A big savings, you can figure out how much.