Units must cancel

Units are socks: cancel matching pairs.

The idea behind the cue

Dimensional analysis arranges conversion factors so unwanted units cancel.

Short & simple

Units are socks: cancel matching pairs.

Acronym

CU: Cancel Units before celebrating.

Story

A calculation has mismatched unit socks. Flip the conversion fraction until matching units cancel.

A correct unit is necessary but does not prove the number or clinical assumptions are correct.

Check your understanding

An infusion calculation expresses duration as 3 hours, but the next step requires minutes. Which conversion factor cancels hours and leaves minutes?

A. 1 min / 60 h

B. 60 min / 1 h

C. 1 h / 60 min

D. 60 h / 1 min

Reveal explanation

60 min / 1 h

Dimensional analysis arranges conversion factors so unwanted units cancel.

Opening your concept…