MHB Why is my teacher calling 2m+(50s)(0.5m/s) pure piffle?

Click For Summary
The discussion revolves around the calculation of the expression 2m + (50s)(0.5m/s). The initial confusion stems from the incorrect interpretation of units, leading to the claim that the result is "pure piffle." The correct calculation shows that 2m + 25m equals 27m, which is a valid result. The misunderstanding highlights the importance of unit consistency in physics equations. Ultimately, the clarification resolves the confusion regarding the teacher's dismissal of the expression.
thereidisanceman
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
2m+(50s)(0.5m/s)
=
2m + 25m/{s}^{2}
=
Not possible

My teacher keeps saying this is pure piffle and shaking his head. Can someone please explain this to me?
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
We have:

$$2\text{ m}+\left(50\text{ s}\right)\left(0.5\,\frac{\text{m}}{\text{s}}\right)=$$

$$2\text{ m}+25\left(\cancel{\text{s}}\cdot\frac{\text{m}}{\cancel{\text{s}}}\right)=$$

$$(2+25)\text{ m}=27\text{ m}$$
 
oh... haha thank you!
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

Similar threads

  • · Replies 38 ·
2
Replies
38
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
9K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
3K
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K