Step by step
The question
Question: change 3 yards into feet.
3 yd = ? ft
1 Find the link
1 yard is 3 feet.
1 yd = 3 ft
2 Make the unit fraction
We want feet, so feet go on top.
We have yards, so yards go at the bottom.
Top and bottom are the same amount.
So the fraction is 1, and times 1 keeps the size.
3 ft1 yd = 1
Careful!
Not upside down.
Then the yards would not cross out.
Careful: not 3 yd × 1 yd3 ft ✗
3 Multiply
We multiply 3 yards by the fraction.
3 yd = 3 yd × 3 ft1 yd
Yards on top and at the bottom cancel, like numbers.
Cross them out.
Feet are left.
What is left: 3 times 3.
= 3 × 3 ft
3 times 3 is 9.
So 3 yards is 9 feet.
= 9 ft
4 Check
Does it make sense?
Feet are smaller than yards.
So we need more of them.
9 is more than 3.
Yes.
ft smaller than yd → more: 9 > 3
And back the other way: 9 divided by 3 = 3.
We get 3 yards again.
So the answer is right!
back: 9 ÷ 3 = 3
Let's look back.
First: find the link.
Then: make the unit fraction.
Then: multiply.
Last: check.
Answer
= 9 ft