Select ALL the valid statements, i.e., B, AC, BCD. If an equation is dimensionally
A) correct, the equation may be correct.
B) correct, the equation must be correct.
C) incorrect, the equation must be wrong.
D) incorrect, the equation may be correct.
E) correct, the equation may be wrong.
I understand that an equation is dimensionally correct if the units match up on either side of an equation, but this question still makes no sense to me..thanks in advance!
A) correct, the equation may be correct.
B) correct, the equation must be correct.
C) incorrect, the equation must be wrong.
D) incorrect, the equation may be correct.
E) correct, the equation may be wrong.
I understand that an equation is dimensionally correct if the units match up on either side of an equation, but this question still makes no sense to me..thanks in advance!
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Okay - what they're getting at is dimensional analysis here. If the dimensions work out, the equation MIGHT be, but doesn't have to be correct. But if the dimensions are wrong, the equation MUST be wrong. So the valid statements are:
(A) If an equation is dimensionally correct, the equation may be correct,
(C) If an equation is dimensionally incorrect, the equation must be wrong, and
(E) If an equation is dimensionally correct, the equation may be wrong.
For example, F = ma is the correct equation. But F = Pi * ma is also dimensionally correct - it's just wrong. F = mv has to be wrong, because the dimensions are off.
(A) If an equation is dimensionally correct, the equation may be correct,
(C) If an equation is dimensionally incorrect, the equation must be wrong, and
(E) If an equation is dimensionally correct, the equation may be wrong.
For example, F = ma is the correct equation. But F = Pi * ma is also dimensionally correct - it's just wrong. F = mv has to be wrong, because the dimensions are off.
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Here's what I THINK the question is saying. "Dimensionally correct" means that the units balance. So if I were to write the equation
Distance = Speed * Time
, the units would be
Miles = miles/hour * hours
, so they balance out.
Now the equation may be right:
50 miles = 10 miles/hour * 5 hours
or wrong:
50 miles = 1 miles/hour * 5 hours
But if it's dimensionally incorrect, it CAN'T be right:
50 bags of dog food = 10 miles/hour * 5 hours
Distance = Speed * Time
, the units would be
Miles = miles/hour * hours
, so they balance out.
Now the equation may be right:
50 miles = 10 miles/hour * 5 hours
or wrong:
50 miles = 1 miles/hour * 5 hours
But if it's dimensionally incorrect, it CAN'T be right:
50 bags of dog food = 10 miles/hour * 5 hours