Question #bc8d3

1 Answer
Feb 26, 2017

Approximately 4.6 Kg/m to 2 decimal ,places

Exactly " "4 8/13 Kg/m

Explanation:

The shortcut method is based on what follows:

I will highlight in red the bit that the shortcut method uses.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
color(blue)("First principle method")

Using ratios in fractional format.

Lookin at the units to decide how we write this. We are told
'mass per metre' so this is written as:

("mass")/("metres")->(Kg)/m -> 15/3.25

The word 'per' means for each of 1. So 'per metre' is for each of 1 metre

Thus we need to change the 3.25 metres to 1 metre
Note that 3.25xx1/3.25 = 1

So we multiply top and bottom of 15/3.25 by 1/3.25

(color(red)(15xx1/3.25))/(3.25xx1/3.25)" "=(color(red)(15xx1/3.25))/1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
color(blue)("Shortcut method")

To determine the mass for one metre apply color(red)(15-:3.25)

Now you see where the shortcut approach comes from

This produces a decimal solution which I am choosing to be rounded, so not precise.

15-:3.25 = 4.61538..... = 4.6 rounded to 2 decimal places

Or you can write: 15/3.25xx 4/4=60/13 which is an exact value