Question 932544
15 ft/min. What is the insect’s speed in yd/h
<pre>
{{{matrix(1,2,15,ft/min)}}}

We use the unit multiplier {{{matrix(1,2,1,yd)/matrix(1,2,3,ft)}}}

{{{matrix(1,2,15,ft/min)}}}{{{"×"}}}{{{matrix(1,2,1,yd)/matrix(1,2,3,ft)}}}

So that the ft on top will cancel with the ft on the bottom.

Next use the unit multiplier {{{matrix(1,2,60,min)/matrix(1,2,1,hr)}}}

{{{matrix(1,2,15,ft/min)}}}{{{"×"}}}{{{matrix(1,2,1,yd)/matrix(1,2,3,ft)}}}{{{"×"}}}{{{matrix(1,2,60,min)/matrix(1,2,1,hr)}}}

So that the min on the bottom will cancel with the min on the top.

Now we cancel the "ft":

{{{matrix(1,2,15,cross(ft)/min)}}}{{{"×"}}}{{{matrix(1,2,1,yd)/matrix(1,2,3,cross(ft))}}}{{{"×"}}}{{{matrix(1,2,60,min)/matrix(1,2,1,hr)}}}

also we cancel the "min":

{{{matrix(1,2,15,cross(ft)/cross(min))}}}{{{"×"}}}{{{matrix(1,2,1,yd)/matrix(1,2,3,cross(ft))}}}{{{"×"}}}{{{matrix(1,2,60,cross(min))/matrix(1,2,1,hr)}}}

And we get:

{{{matrix(1,2,15,"")}}}{{{"×"}}}{{{matrix(1,2,1,yd)/matrix(1,2,3,"")}}}{{{"×"}}}{{{matrix(1,2,60,"")/matrix(1,2,1,hr)}}}
or
{{{15}}}{{{"×"}}}{{{"1×60"/"3×1"}}}{{{yd/hr}}}
or

{{{300}}}{{{yd/hr}}}

When you get skilled in this type of problem, you'll be
able to do it in your head like this:

15 feet is 3 yards, so that's 5 yards in one minute. Then in 1 hour
it goes 60 times as far, and 60 times 5 is 300.  So it goes 300 yards
in 1 hour.  

Edwin</pre>