Dimensional Analysis
Converting units from one unit to
another
Introduction
 the
skill of converting from one unit to
another is called dimensional analysis.
Introduction
 involves
three factors:
a. the unit in the given problem
b. the unit the answer should be in
c. the conversion factor
A conversion factor is….
1) a fraction that always equals 1
ex. 1 kilogram equals 1000 grams
1 kg / 1000 g = 1
OR
1000 g / 1 kg = 1
B. How to do a conversion – metric to
metric
 Read
the given problem. Determine the
units you are converting to (what units
your answer should be in).
a. Convert 2500 g to kilograms.
How to do a conversion – metric to metric
 Choose
a conversion factor that includes
both the unit given in the problem and the
unit you need to convert to. You could
choose:
1 kg / 1000 g = 1
OR
1000 g / 1 kg = 1
How to do a conversion – metric to metric
 Choose
the conversion factor that will
allow you to cross – cancel out the units
that you DO NOT want in the answer.
(hint: put the units you want for the
answer in the numerator position!)
2500 grams x
1 kilogram
1000 grams
How to do a conversion – metric to metric
 Cancel
out the like units
(numerator/denominator).
 Do the math. Multiply the fractions reduce to its simplest form.

2500 grams
x 1 kilogram
1000 grams
=
2500kilograms
1000
How to do a conversion – metric to metric
 2500
kilograms
1000
= 2.5 kilograms
Answer = 2.5 kilograms
6 Step Method
1. Read to find the given
2. Set up the problem
3. Find the conversion factor
4. Multiply and divide
5. Record answer
6. Check work
. How to do a conversion – metric /english
 Read
the given problem. Determine the
units you are converting to (what units
your answer should be in).
a. Convert 750 miles to kilometers.
How to do a conversion – metric /english
 Choose
a conversion factor that includes
both the unit given in the problem and the
unit you need to convert to. You could
choose:
1 mile / 1.602 kilometers = 1
OR
1.602 kilometers / 1 mile = 1
How to do a conversion – metric /english
 Choose
the conversion factor that will
allow you to cross – cancel out the units
that you DO NOT WANT in the answer.
(hint: put the units you want for the
answer in the numerator position!)
750 miles
x 1.602 kilometers
1 mile
How to do a conversion – metric /english
 Cancel
out the like units
(numerator/denominator).
750 miles
x
1.602 kilometers
1 mile
How to do a conversion – metric /english
 Do
the math. Multiply the fractions reduce to its simplest form.
750 miles
 1201.5
x 1.602 kilometers
1 mile
kilometers = 1201.5 kilometers
1
How to do a conversion – metric /english
Answer:
1200 kilometers
Dimensional Analysis
–Multistep Conversions
 Example:
If Gavin is running with a football
30ft/second, how fast is that in meters per
second?
 Example:
If Katelyn is in a Mercedes
traveling 15 mph, how fast is that in
ft/sec?