SOLUTION: Use six unit multipliers to convert 6 cubic yards to cubic inches

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Question 165128This question is from textbook pre algebra
: Use six unit multipliers to convert 6 cubic yards to cubic inches This question is from textbook pre algebra

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Use six unit multipliers to convert 6 cubic yards to cubic inches

     Start by writing 6_cubic_yards as 6yd%5E3 and
     then as 6%2Ayd%2Ayd%2Ayd, and then put it over 1, 
     and we start with this:

%286%2Ayd%2Ayd%2Ayd%29%2F1

     We treat a unit just as we would treat a number or
     letter in algebra which is multiplied by a number. So we 
     want to cancel away the three yd factors and bring 
     in ft.  We know that 3ft=1yd.  So there are
     two possible unit multipliers which we can make with
     that.  We can make the unit multiplier %283ft%29%2F%281yd%29
     or the unit multiplier %281yd%29%2F%283ft%29.  The question
     is which one do we make.  Since we have yd in the
     numerator, we must use the unit multiplier which has
     yd in the denominator so the yd's will cancel.
     So we multiply by %283ft%29%2F%281yd%29 three times, one for
     each yd factor.  

 

     and then the yd's cancel, like this:

 



     Now we want to cancel away the three ft factors
     and bring in in.  We know that 12in=1ft. 
     So there are two possible unit multipliers which we can 
     make with that.  We can make the unit multiplier %281ft%29%2F%2812in%29
     or the unit multiplier %2812in%29%2F%281ft%29.  The question
     is which one do we make.  Since we have ft in the
     numerator, we must use the unit multiplier which has
     ft in the denominator so the ft's will cancel.
     So we multiply by %2812in%29%2F%281ft%29 three times, one for
     each ft factor.  

 

     Then the ft's cancel:



     So all we have left is:

6%2A3%2A3%2A3%2A12%2A12%2A12%2Ain%2Ain%2Ain+

     Multiply all that out with a calculator,
     and replace the in%2Ain%2Ain by in%5E3

279936%2Ain%5E3

     or 279936 cubic inches.

     Edwin