Solving Physics Conversion Homework Problem

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The discussion revolves around a physics conversion homework problem involving the purchase of cloth from a small island. The clothing maker mistakenly accepts a high initial price of 400 tepizes per square meter, leading to a calculation of costs that results in a perceived loss. The calculations provided initially yield a total cost of $104,515.92 for 500 m² of cloth, while the equivalent cost in New York is $71,759.40, suggesting a loss of $32,756.52. However, the participant is questioned about the inclusion of "ea" in their calculations, indicating a potential error in their approach. Clarification on the correct conversion and calculation methods is needed to resolve the issue.
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Homework Statement


The inhabitants of a small island begin exporting beautiful cloth made from a rare plant that grows only on their island. Seeing how popular the small quantity that they export has been, they steadily raise their prices. A clothing maker from New York, thinking that he can save money by "cutting out the middleman," decides to travel to the small island and buy the cloth himself. Ignorant of the local custom of offering strangers outrageous prices and then negotiating down, the clothing maker accepts (much to everyone's surprise) the initial price of 400 tepizes/m^2. The price of this cloth in New York is 120 dollars/yd^2 If the clothing maker bought 500 m^2 of this fabric, how much money did he lose? Use 1 tepiz = .625 dollars and .9144 m = 1 yard.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


500ea*400 temizes/m^2*0.625 dollars/tepiz*(0.9144m/1 yard)^2
=$104515.92

500 m^2*(1 yard/.91144m)^2*120=$71759.40

loss=$104515.92-$71759.40=$32756.52

it says its wrong. what am i doing wrong?
 
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magma_saber said:
500ea*400 temizes/m^2*0.625 dollars/tepiz*(0.9144m/1 yard)^2
=$104515.92
Where are you getting the "ea" at the beginning from?
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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