B Calculating Rod Speeds with Algebraic Formulas

AI Thread Summary
A user is attempting to create a spreadsheet formula to calculate rod speeds using algebraic expressions after a long absence from high school math. They need to rearrange the formulas w=(d/r)/t and v=d/t to find v2 when given r2, with known values for v1 and r1. The discussion provides a solution, showing that v2 can be calculated as v2 = (v1 * r2) / r1, assuming that the ratio of velocities and radii remains constant. The context involves analyzing how the length of a rod affects the speed at one end when swinging around an axis. The user plans to have the calculations verified by an engineer before implementation.
demackison
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I am trying to create a formula for a spreadsheet to calculate values and it has been thirty years since high school algebra. Here are the formulas I need to rearrange.

w=(d/r)/t
v=d/t

w is an unknown constant and I have values for v1 and r1
I need the formula to spit out v2 if I input r2 in the spreadsheet
 
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demackison said:
it has been thirty years since high school algebra.
We normally don't give away ready made answers, but in this (very simple) case I'll make an exception, as it seems, that a tutorial on how to deal with quotients might not be appropriate in your case. But in general please use our homework section for these kind of questions, the automatically inserted template and especially tell us, what you don't understand, i.e. where you got stuck and why.

##w=(d/r)/t = \dfrac{\frac{d}{r}}{\frac{t}{1}}=\dfrac{d}{r} \cdot \dfrac{1}{t}= \dfrac{d}{r\cdot t}=\dfrac{d}{t} \cdot \dfrac{1}{r}=\dfrac{v}{r}##.

So if ##\dfrac{v_1}{r_1}=w= \dfrac{v_2}{r_2}## then ##v_2= \dfrac{v_1}{r_1}\cdot r_2 = \dfrac{v_1 \cdot r_2}{r_1}##.
 
Thanks!
 
demackison said:
Thanks!

I had converted to d/r * t/1, in error.
 
demackison said:
Thanks!
Only if ##\frac{d_1}{r_1}=\frac{d_2}{r_2}## but you haven't explained anything about the assumptions which are allowed or not, especially nothing about ##d##. That's why I said: If ##\frac{v_1}{r_1}=\frac{v_2}{r_2}##. I cannot know.
 
The formula was for a rod swinging around an axis with the speed of one end of the rod known. In essence, the spreadsheet will show what various longer or shorter rods will do to the speed at the other end.

Don't worry, this will be checked by an actual engineer before anything is implemented. :)
 
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