A desktop processor for a computer can calculate approximately 100 operations in 2.5 × 1 0 − 7 2.5 \times 10^{-7} 2.5 × 1 0 − 7 seconds.
At this rate, approximately how many operations can be calculated by this computer in one half hour?
We can use a simple proportion, as long as we make sure the units correspond to each other. We can convert one half hour to 30 minutes, which is 1800 seconds.
100 operations 2.5 × 1 0 − 7 seconds = O operations 1 , 800 seconds \frac{100 \text{ operations}}{2.5 \times 10^{-7}\text{ seconds}} =\frac{O \text{ operations}}{1{,}800 \text{ seconds}} 2.5 × 1 0 − 7 seconds 100 operations = 1 , 800 seconds O operations
100 ( 1 , 800 ) = ( 2.5 × 1 0 − 7 ) O 100(1{,}800)= (2.5 \times 10^{-7})O 100 ( 1 , 800 ) = ( 2.5 × 1 0 − 7 ) O
O = 180 , 000 2.5 × 1 0 − 7 O = \frac{180{,}000}{2.5 \times 10^{-7}} O = 2.5 × 1 0 − 7 180 , 000
O = 7.2 × 1 0 11 operations O = \boxed{7.2 \times 10^{11}} \text{ operations} O = 7.2 × 1 0 11 operations
Using the standard unit conversion method:
Given rate
100 operations 2.5 × 1 0 − 7 seconds \small \frac{100 \text{ operations }}{2.5 \times 10^{-7} \text{ seconds }} 2.5 × 1 0 − 7 seconds 100 operations
Known rate
60 seconds 1 minute \small \frac{60 \text{ seconds }}{1 \text{ minute }} 1 minute 60 seconds
Known rate
60 minutes 1 hour \small \frac{60 \text{ minutes }}{1 \text{ hour }} 1 hour 60 minutes
Given quantity
0.5 hours \small 0.5 \text{ hours} 0.5 hours
Writing the rates and quantities so that they cancel out and leave us with operations:
100 operations 2.5 × 1 0 − 7 seconds ⋅ 60 seconds 1 minute ⋅ 60 minutes 1 hour ⋅ 0.5 hours \frac{100 \text{ operations }}{2.5 \times 10^{-7} \cancel{\text{ seconds }}} \cdot \frac{60 \cancel{\text{ seconds }}}{1 \cancel{\text{ minute }}} \cdot
\frac{60 \cancel{\text{ minutes }}}{1 \cancel{\text{ hour }}} \cdot 0.5 \cancel{\text{ hours}} 2.5 × 1 0 − 7 seconds 100 operations ⋅ 1 minute 60 seconds ⋅ 1 hour 60 minutes ⋅ 0.5 hours
100 2.5 × 1 0 − 7 ⋅ 60 1 ⋅ 60 1 ⋅ 0.5 operations \frac{100}{2.5 \times 10^{-7}} \cdot \frac{60}{1} \cdot \frac{60}{1} \cdot 0.5 \text{ operations} 2.5 × 1 0 − 7 100 ⋅ 1 60 ⋅ 1 60 ⋅ 0.5 operations
= 7.2 × 1 0 11 operations = \boxed{7.2 \times 10^{11}} \text{ operations} = 7.2 × 1 0 11 operations