Dimensional Analysis

Money Conversions
Today you’ll learn how to use
dimensional analysis to convert
money.
By the end of the lesson,
you will:

Use dimensional analysis:

• To convert U.S. dollars to money from
other countries
• To convert money from other countries
to U.S. dollars

CA Math Content Standard

Measurement and Geometry
7 1.3 Use measures expressed as rates and measures
expressed as person-days to solve problems; check the units
of the solutions; and use dimensional analysis to check the
reasonableness of the answer.
Why Am I Learning This?

• So you can use dimensional

analysis in the real world.
• And be able to answer
questions on the CAHSEE and
the State CST tests.
Dimensional Analysis

is using unit analysis to help make

conversions from one unit to
another.
Use dimensional analysis to convert
the units for this situation:

I have ten dollars.

How many dimes are
in ten dollars?
Use dimensional analysis to write the
expression to change the units for a situation.

There are five steps:

1. Read the situation. Identify the Write this
in your
original units. notes
2. Write the original units as a fraction.
3. Decide what is the conversion factor
for the new unit.
4. Be sure to set up the problem so the
original units will divide out.
5. Simplify the expression and divide
out the common units
Write in your notes...

Objective: I will be able to use dimensional analysis to

convert money

What are the steps 1. Read the situation. Identify the

to use dimensional original units.
analysis? 2. Write the original units as a
fraction.
3. Decide what is the conversion
factor for the new unit.
4. Be sure to set up the problem
so the original units will divide
out.
5. Simplify the expression and
divide out the common units
Step 1:
Read the problem and identify the
original units.

I have ten dollars. How

many dimes are in ten
dollars?

Hint:
The units come after
the number.
Step 2:
Write the original units as a fraction.

I have ten dollars. How

many dimes are in ten
dollars?

10 dollars
1
Step 3:
Write multiplication symbol and draw
the fraction bar.

I have ten dollars. How

many dimes are in ten
dollars?

10 dollars
•
1
What is the conversion factor for
dollars to dimes?
Step 4:
Use the conversion factor in the
second fraction.

I have ten dollars. How

many dimes are in ten
dollars?

10 dollars 10 dimes
•
1 1 dollar
Write units in the second fraction so that the
original units divide out and leave the new unit.
Step 5:
Simplify the expression and divide
out the common units

I have ten dollars. How

many dimes are in ten
dollars?

10 dollars 10 dimes 100 dimes

• =
1 1 dollar 1
Be sure the original units divide out.
Now let’s change 10 pounds
to U.S. dollars.

Conversion Factor: (varies daily)

One pound is approximately 2.04 dollars
dollars using dimensional
analysis

Write theby
Multiply given units.
the conversion factor
10 pounds 2.04 dollars
  20.4 dollars
1 1pound
10  2.04  20.4
A ship from China is coming to the
Port of Long Beach. The captain
has 2500 yuans. How many U.S.
dollars does he have?
Conversion Factor: (varies daily)
One yuan is approximately 0.1321 dollars

Change yuan to dollars.

Let’s convert yuan to dollars
using dimensional analysis.

Write
Multiply by the conversion
given units.factor

2500 yuan 0.1321dollar

  330.25dollars
1 1yuan

2500  0.1321  330.25

In pairs:
• Determine which partner will be
person A and which is person B
• Person A: Tell your partner what is
dimensional analysis?
• Person B: Tell your partner he or
she is correct, or tell your partner
the correct definition.

Dimensional analysis is using unit analysis to

help do conversions from one unit to the next.
Is this correct?
To change 100 dollars to yuan, you would
write the following expression.
Conversion factor: 1 dollar = 7.57 yuan

100 dollars 7.57 yuan


1 1dollar
Don’t say the answer out loud, wait for
the count of three.

Yes
Tell your partner how you know this is the correct expression.
I will pick a person at random to explain.
Partner Work
How do you convert money
from one country to another?
In pairs:
• Determine which partner will be
person A and which is person B
• Person A: Tell your partner how to
convert money from one country to
another?
• Person B: Tell your partner he or
she is correct, or tell your partner
the correct definition.
Write an expression using dimensional
analysis to eliminate the original units.
Practice
Look at the conversion chart and use
dimensional analysis to convert
the money to the correct unit.
 A B C D
Country Money One dollar in Foreign
Foreign currency Currency in one
dollar
Britain Pound $1 = 0.49 pound 1 pound = $2.04
France Euro $1 = 0.73 euro 1 euro = $1.38
Mexico Peso $1 = 10.78 pesos 1 peso = $0.93

1. Ten dollars to euros.

2. One hundred dollars to pounds.
3. One hundred pesos to dollars.
 Country Money One Dollar in Foreign Currency
Foreign in one dollar
currency
Britain Pound 0.49 2.04
France Euro 0.73 1.38
Mexico Peso 10.78 0.93
1. Ten dollars to euros. 10 dollars 0.73 euros
• = 7.30 euros
1 1 dollar

4. One hundred dollars to pounds 100 dollars  0.49 pounds  49.00 pounds
1 1 dollar

7. One hundred pesos to dollars. 100 pesos • 0.93 dollars =

93.00dollars
1 1 peso
Independent Practice

• Complete the Money Conversion

Worksheet.
• Work alone
• Compare answers with a partner to
decide the correct answer
• The teacher will select various
students to explain the problems