How do you Convert to find the equivalent rate.

Question

336 yards      Yards

 

________=  ______

week            Hours

Answer 1

To convert units without changing the value, we use the Multiplicative Identity (that is, 1).

 

In this problem, we need the information that:

   1 week   =  7 days

  and

   1 days = 24 hours          (unless the problem asks for work hours, for example)

 

So,

  1 = (7 days)/(1 week)  =  (1 week)/(7 days)

  1 = (24 hours)/(1 day)  =  (1 day)/(24 hours)             [note: pick appropriate one]

 

The problem gives:

   336 yards per week

   (336 yards)/(1 week)

   ((336 yards)/(1 week))*1

   ((336 yards)/(1 week))*((1 week)/(7 days))*((1 day)/(24 hours))

   (336)*(1/7)*(1/24) yards/hour           [note:  week and days cancel out]

      2 yards/hour

 

(note:  It is amazing how such answers look like a teacher worked this backwards.)