Expert: Sherry Wallin - 12/2/2008

Question
convert 36,960 ft. to miles.

Answer
Hi Bob~
    So you want to convert ft to miles. You need a conversion factor which is 5,280 per 1 mile which is saying the same thing as
5,280 ft/mile and also 5,280 feet = 1 mile. Use whichever is the clearest for your understanding.

There are a number of ways to do this problem and i am going to show you a method that will take you farther in math and science.

Set up a multiplication problem so that your desired units are to the right of the equal sign. In this problem your desired units are miles so start by setting up your problem like this:

----------- X ----------- = ________________  miles

You will want the units you are trying to get rid of both in the numerator and the denominator so that they cancel out as like units

36,960 feet        1 mile
----------- x    ----------- =  7 miles
    1            5,280 feet

You cancel the feet with the feet as well as any common factors in the numerator and denominator, it just so happens that 7*5,280 = 36,960.

I hope this helps. This system of measurement is called the English or Imperial System.

Happy Mathing,
Math Prof