# Physic quantities and units

#### copperfox

##### New member
here's the question:

a = b/e
b = 1 kg m-1
e = 1 kg m-2

what is a? including units

I assume it's to do with cancelling out the units when you divide but I really don't know what the answer is

#### Klaas van Aarsen

##### MHB Seeker
Staff member
here's the question:

a = b/e
b = 1 kg m-1
e = 1 kg m-2

what is a? including units

I assume it's to do with cancelling out the units when you divide but I really don't know what the answer is
Hi copperfox! Welcome to MHB!

Indeed. It's about canceling out the units.
It works like this:
$$a=\frac be = \frac{1\cdot\text{kg}\cdot\text{m}^{-1}}{1\cdot\text{kg}\cdot\text{m}^{-2}} = \frac{1\cdot\cancel{\text{kg}}\cdot\text{m}^{-1}}{1\cdot\cancel{\text{kg}}\cdot\text{m}^{-2}} \cdot\frac{\text{m}^2}{\text{m}^2} = \frac{1\cdot\text{m}^{1}}{1\cdot\text{m}^{0}} = \frac{1\cdot\text{m}}{1\cdot1} = 1\,\text{m}$$

#### Country Boy

##### Well-known member
MHB Math Helper
Equivalently, $\frac{b}{e}= \frac{1\frac{kg}{m}}{1\frac{kg}{m^2}}= 1\frac{kg}{m}\frac{m^2}{kg}= 1\frac{kg}{kg}\frac{m^2}{m}= 1 m$