# Grouping all of the units at the end? I.E. F=ma = 2.3*424.3 [kg*m/s]

In some papers I've read, I've seen the authors write down all of the units at the end. For example

$F=ma = 2.3*424.3 [kg*m/s^2]$

In high school, I've never seen the teachers or textbooks write like this. How common is this is method? Assuming one keeps track of their units properly, I like this method because it feels more organized.

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Dick
Homework Helper
In some papers I've read, I've seen the authors write down all of the units at the end. For example

$F=ma = 2.3*424.3 [kg*m/s^2]$

In high school, I've never seen the teachers or textbooks write like this. How common is this is method? Assuming one keeps track of their units properly, I like this method because it feels more organized.
It's the usual thing to collect all of the units in a product together, for exactly the reason you cite. Do it, it's a good thing to do.

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PhanthomJay
Homework Helper
Gold Member
Yes as long as you keep track of units, this is a good way to do it. Remember that the short name for a kg.m/s^2 is a Newton, the SI unit of force.

1 person
Thanks. I'll use this more knowing that its a proper practice. Just ot make sure i'm doing it right, is this correct in format?

$F=9.8m [m/s^{2}]$

What about for something like y = 59 - 4x?
Would I group the units in brackets after each term or at the end of the whole thing?
For example, would it be
$y = 59 [unit] - 4x[otherunit]$

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Dick
Homework Helper
Thanks. I'll use this more knowing that its a proper practice. Just ot make sure i'm doing it right, is this correct in format?

$F=9.8m [m/s^{2}]$
The format isn't terribly important, you don't need brackets. Just collect all of the units at the end like you did before, kg*m/s^2. I'm not sure what your example is. m[m/s^2] isn't the units of a force.

Dick
Homework Helper
Thanks. I'll use this more knowing that its a proper practice. Just ot make sure i'm doing it right, is this correct in format?

$F=9.8m [m/s^{2}]$

What about for something like y = 59 - 4x?
Would I group the units in brackets after each term or at the end of the whole thing?
For example, would it be
$y = 59 [unit] - 4x[otherunit]$
End of the whole thing. If the two terms you are adding or subtracting have different units, then there is a mistake someplace. You can't add things with different units.

The first m is a variable for mass. But it looks the same as the unit for meters

Also, the example was just random numbers. The variable of x has units that would make "otherunit" into the "unit" but I didn't put down the units for x since it's still an unknown value.

Dick