SOLUTION: Identify the units on the variable x in each of the following situations. 1. x=fp both f and p are measured in inches. I don't understand how to do this. I don't even unde

Algebra ->  Conversion and Units of Measurement -> SOLUTION: Identify the units on the variable x in each of the following situations. 1. x=fp both f and p are measured in inches. I don't understand how to do this. I don't even unde      Log On


   



Question 70836: Identify the units on the variable x in each of the following situations.

1. x=fp both f and p are measured in inches.
I don't understand how to do this. I don't even understand what the question is.

Answer by bucky(2189) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
To get x you are multiplying f times p. What will be the units of x.
.
To do the multiplication you multiply the numerical part of f times the numerical part of
p. Then you also multiply the units of f times the units of p.
.
The important part of the units is the multiplication. In this case you are multiplying
the inches from f by the inches from p. inches times inches is the same as inches squared
(something multiplied by itself is said to be squared). Normally we say square inches
instead of inches squared, but either is correct. In fact, in math terms it is not
uncommon to seein%5E2 to represent square inches.
.
Let's put some numbers into an example. Suppose you let f = 5 inches and p = 2 inches.
When you multiply these two together you multiply the 5 times the 2 to get an answer
of 10 and you also multiply the inches times the inches to get square inches. So the
answer is 10 square inches. And this product is x because the equation says that x is equal
to the product of f and p. So we can say for this example that x equals 10 square
inches.
.
Hope this explanation helps you to understand what the problem is asking for.