How to Convert Units Using Dimensional Analysis

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video provides a clear and practical introduction to dimensional analysis, a mathematical method used to convert units of measurement. The narrator, Justin, breaks down the process of using known conversion rates to manipulate units, ensuring that unwanted units cancel out to reveal the desired result. Through step-by-step examples, viewers learn how to set up conversion chains for rates, such as changing miles per hour into feet per second. The video explores key themes of unit conversion, ratios, and algebraic thinking. It specifically covers two distinct types of problems: a standard rate conversion involving distance and time, and a more complex multi-variable problem involving currency exchange and mass. The visual presentation emphasizes the importance of placing units correctly in the numerator or denominator to achieve cancellation, a foundational skill for advanced math and science courses. For educators, this video serves as an excellent resource for bridging the gap between basic math skills and applied sciences like chemistry and physics. It demonstrates the "train track" or "fence post" method often used in stoichiometry. Teachers can use this video to introduce the concept of dimensional analysis, reinforce the importance of tracking units during calculation, or as a remediation tool for students struggling with multi-step word problems involving rates.