Question

Question: Horses are to race over a certain English meadow for a distance of. What is the race distance in (a) rods and (b) chains? ( 1 furlong = 201.168m, 1 rod = 5.0292 m and 1 chain =20.117 m)

Short answer

Answer

1. The race distance is 160 rods.
2. The race distance is 40 chains.

Step-by-step solution

Given data

Race distance is 4.0 furlongs.

The conversion factors given in the problems are listed below:

1 furlong = 201.168m,

1 rod = 5.0292 m

1 chain =20.117 m

Understanding the conversion factors

Unit conversion is the conversion between different units of measure for the same quantity, usually through multiplier conversion factors.Here, furlong, rod, meter, and chain are the different units for the quantity length.

(a) Determination of race distance in rods 

Using the above conversion factors, the race distance in rods can be written as,

$$\begin{gathered} \text{Ricedistance=4.0furlongs×}\left(\frac{201.168m}{1furlong}\right)\text{×}\left(\frac{1rod}{5.0292m}\right) \\ \text{=160rod} \end{gathered}$$

Thus, the race distance is 160 rod.

(b) Determination of race distance in chains

Using the above conversion factors, the race distance in chains can be written as,

$$\begin{gathered} \text{Ricedistance=4.0furlongs×}\left(\frac{201.168m}{1furlong}\right)\text{×}\left(\frac{1chain}{20.117m}\right) \\ \text{=39.999chains} \\ \approx 40chains \end{gathered}$$

Thus, the race distance is 40 chains.