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Conversion of Units

Idea: Units can be treated as algebraic quantities. For example, we can use the conversion factor 1 in = 2.54 cm to rewrite 15 inches in centimeters.

15  in = 15  in $\displaystyle\left( \frac{2.54 \;{\:\rm cm}}{1 \;{\:\rm in}} \right)=$38.1  cm      (1)


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10/9/1997