Quantity Math Example 4

Follow the full solution, then compare it with the other examples linked below.

Example 4

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Can you say which is 'more': 5 kilometers or 5 miles? What does this tell you about quantities?

Solution

  1. 1
    5 kilometers 3.1\approx 3.1 miles and 5 miles 8.0\approx 8.0 km.
  2. 2
    The number 5 appears in both, but the units differ — so the quantities are different.
  3. 3
    5 miles >> 5 kilometers because a mile is a longer unit than a kilometer.

Answer

5 miles>5 kilometers5 \text{ miles} > 5 \text{ kilometers}
The number alone does not define a quantity — the unit matters equally. Two quantities with the same number but different units are generally not equal. Always convert to the same unit before comparing.

About Quantity

An amount or number of something that can be measured or counted; a quantity combines a number with a unit.

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