Question

How do I set this up using the dimensional analysis method

Answer 1

You want to start with years and end with kilograms of dog food.

1 yr → kg dog food

The sequence must be

1 yr → days → cups of food → grams of food → kilograms of food

At each step, you use a conversion factor (CF) to get the result you want.

Each CF must have

• on top the units of the result you want

• on the bottom, the units of the preceding term

Your sequence now becomes

Time = 1 yr × (no. of days/yr) × (no. of cups/day) × (g dog food/cup)

× (kg dog food/g dog food) = kg dog food

Notice that the denominator of a CF always cancels the units of the one before it.

Do you get something like 100 kg dog food?