Name: _________________
College Mathematics
Homework #12: Section 2.2(Solving Literal Equations)
Due Tuesday 10/5/2010
Score = ___ / 68 points
Solve the following equations.
1) The density of an object is calculated using the formula D 
M
, where D is the density of the object, M
V
is its mass, and V is its volume.
a. Solve this literal equation for M.
b. Compute the mass of 1.0 gallon of water, given its density is 8.35 pounds per gallon. Use correct
sig figs in your answer.
c. Compute the mass of 1.000103 mL of water, given its density is 1.0010-3 kilograms per mL.
Use correct sig figs in your answer.
d. Compute the mass of 1.000103 mL of liquid mercury, given its density is 1.353410-2
kilograms grams per mL. Use correct sig figs in your answer
e. Solve the literal equation for V.
f. Compute the volume occupied by 100.0 pounds of water. Use correct sig figs in your answer.
g. Compute the volume occupied by 100.0 kilograms of water. Use correct sig figs in your answer.
h. Compute the volume occupied by 100.0 kilograms of liquid mercury. Use correct sig figs in
your answer.
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Name: _________________
2) The distance traveled by an object moving at constant speed is calculated using the formula d = rt,
where d is the distance traveled, r is the rate of speed, and t is the time spent traveling at that rate.
a. Compute the distance traveled by an object moving at the speed of sound, which is 1,126 feet per
second, for 5.0 seconds. Use correct sig figs in your answer. Compare this distance to a mile,
which is 5,280 feet.
b. Solve the literal equation for r.
c. Compute the rate of an object that travels 125 miles in 1.87 hours. Use correct sig figs in your
answer.
d. Compute the rate of an object that travels 0.13 feet in 0.000 10 seconds. Use correct sig figs in
your answer. Note: this is the speed of some high-speed bullets.
e. Solve the literal equation for t.
f. Compute the time required to travel 25,000 miles at the speed of light, which is 186,000 miles
per second. Use correct sig figs in your answer. Note: this is how long it would take light to
travel around the earth.
g. Compute the time required to travel 1.0 foot at the speed of fingernail growth, which is 3.9410-4
inches per day. Use correct sig figs in your answer.
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Name: _________________
5
 F  32  converts a temperature in Fahrenheit to a temperature in Celsius.
9
a. Solve the literal equation for F.
3) The formula C 
b. Compute the Fahrenheit equivalent of 100. degrees Celsius. Use correct sig figs in your answer.
c. Compute the Fahrenheit equivalent of 0.0 degrees Celsius. Use correct sig figs in your answer.
d. Compute the Fahrenheit equivalent of 37.0 degrees Celsius. Use correct sig figs in your answer.
e. Compute the Fahrenheit equivalent of -40.0 degrees Celsius. Use correct sig figs in your answer.
4) Solve A = LW for L.
5) Solve A 
1
 B  b  for B.
2
6) Solve for x in the following equation: y  ax  c
7) Solve for x in the following equation:
x  2y
 12
3
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Name: _________________
8) Solve V = r2h for h.
9) Solve A   r 2  2 rH for H.
10) Solve P 
E2
for R.
R

11) Solve V 
kq1q2
for d.
d
12) Solve V 
kq1q2
for q1.
d
13) Solve V 
kq1q2
for k.
d
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