

Answers should always be presented with the appropriate number of significant digits. These tables are particularly important when more than one unit conversion is necessary to obtain the desired unit.

#IUNIT CONVERSATION PROFESSIONAL#
Setting up a unit cancellation table helps keep units straight, even for the most seasoned professional firefighter. Notice that the hour units on the top and bottom cancel along with the minutes, leaving seconds as the only unit. There are 12,960 seconds in 3 hours 36 minutes. Step 2. Set up the cancellation table so all units will cancel, except the desired unit, seconds.

#IUNIT CONVERSATION PLUS#
The appropriate conversion factor is: 1 hour = 60 minutes.ģ hours and 36 minutes = 180 minutes plus 36 minutes = 216 minutes Using minutes is easier because the end time value will need to be in seconds. Step 1. Change 3 hours and 36 minutes to the same units. When you multiply across the table, the top number will be divided by the bottom number, and the result will be the answer in the desired units.Įxample 1 - Ralph wants to know how many seconds are in 3 hours and 36 minutes. To cancel a unit, the same unit must be in the numerator and in the denominator. The table is set up so all the units cancel except for the unit desired. To convert minutes to hours, the appropriate conversion value is 60 minutes equal 1 hour.Ī unit cancellation table is developed by using known units, conversion factors, and the fact that a unit of measure ÷ the same unit of measure cancels out that unit. For example, to convert inches to feet, the appropriate conversion value is 12 inches equal 1 foot. When a conversion is necessary, the appropriate conversion factor to an equal value must be used. A conversion factor is a numeric expression that enables feet to be changed to chains as an equal exchange.Ī conversion factor is a number used to change one set of units to another, by multiplying or dividing. Often measurements are given in one set of units, such as feet, but are needed in different units, such as chains. For instance, time can be expressed in minutes instead of hours, while distance can be converted from miles to kilometers, or feet, or any other measure of length. A unit conversion expresses the same property as a different unit of measurement.
