Re: [Phys-l] Unit Conversions (was Mass and Energy)

[John Denker <jsd@av8n.com>]

Addendum to my previous note:

The original expression

    1 m ( 100 cm/ m)( 1 in/ 2.54 cm) = 39.37 in          [1]

can be rewritten as

    1 m (cm / .01 m) (1 in / 2.54 cm) = 39.37 in        [2]

which conforms to my understanding of the suggestion other folks
have made.   That is, write the funny unit as a multiple of the
more-standard unit.

But the method works whether you follow this suggestion or not;
anybody with ordinary skill should be able to do it either way.

And to be explicit, this can be written out in multiple steps:

   1 m = 1 m (cm / .01 m)
       = .01 m
       = .01 m (in / 2.54 cm)              [3]
       = 39.37 in