Introduction
According to Texas A & M University, "Dimensional Analysis (also called Factor-Label Method or the Unit Factor Method) is a problem-solving method that uses the fact that any number or expression can be multiplied by one without changing its value."
Sounds complicated right? It doesn't have to be. In fact, dimensional analysis can be quite easy. Up to this point, you should already know a bit about rational expressions. A rational expression is an algebraic fraction whose numerator and denominator are polynomials. For example, (3x/6y) is a rational expression. We should already know how to simplify rational expressions. In the case of (3x/6y), the simplified answer is x/2y, as 3 can divided into the numerator and denominator. Also, we should know how to multiply rational expressions.
Dimensional analysis is simply converting numbers of one type of unit to another type of unit through polynomial multiplication and simplification. For example, say we were going 50 miles per hour. How many kilometers per hour would this be? This is just one of the many questions dimensional analysis can answer for us. In this WebQuest, we are going to see how algebra, in particular, dimensional analysis can be useful in real life. Later, you'll create your own problems using dimensional analysis.
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