Make Predictions

A prediction is a guess about something in the future. A prediction is more likely to be accurate if it is based on facts and logical reasoning.

The Hoover Dam is one of America’s largest producers of hydroelectric power. Up to 300,000 gallons of water can move through the dam’s generators every second. Predict the amount of water that moves through the generators in half of an hour.

Use what you know about transforming units to make a prediction.

You know the rate of the water through the generators, and you are given an amount of time.  Rate of flow : \(\cfrac{300,000\text{ gallons}}{1\text{ sec}}\) ; time : \(\cfrac{1}{2}\text{ hr}\)

You want to find the amount of water. Amount of water : ? gallons 

Convert the amount of time to seconds to match the units in the rate. \(\cfrac{1}{2}\text{ hr} = 30\text{ min}\)

Multiply the rate by the amount of time to find the amount of water. \(\cfrac{300,000\text{ gallons}}{1\text{ sec}}\times\cfrac{1,800\text{ sec}}{1} = 540,000,000\text{ gal}\)

So, a good prediction of the amount of water that moves through the generators in half of an hour is 540,000,000 gallons.

Transform units to solve.