# Dimension of an area?

• September 16th 2011, 10:29 AM
JRichardson1729
Dimension of an area?
I have found a question that I do not believe is hard, but I don't understand what it is asking. The question is:

"The expression

$\frac{\pi p^2 q^n}{\sqrt{p^2+q^2}}$

has the dimension of an area. Find the value of n."

What is a dimension of an area?
• September 16th 2011, 10:32 AM
e^(i*pi)
Re: Dimension of an area?
Quote:

Originally Posted by JRichardson1729
I have found a question that I do not believe is hard, but I don't understand what it is asking. The question is:

"The expression

$\frac{\pi p^2q^n}{\sqrt{p^2+q^2}}$

has the dimension of an area. Find the value of n."

What is a dimension of an area?

The dimension of an area is $\text{(Length)}^2$

For this question you need to find a value of n such the quotient of the whole fraction has an exponent of 2.
• September 16th 2011, 10:33 AM
JRichardson1729
Re: Dimension of an area?
But, what does "dimension of an area" mean?
• September 16th 2011, 10:35 AM
e^(i*pi)
Re: Dimension of an area?
Quote:

Originally Posted by JRichardson1729
But, what does "dimension of an area" mean?

This is an example of Dimensional Analysis

Length, Time, Temperature (basically anything described by an SI base unit) is a dimension. The area of something is Length x Length so that is it's dimension.
• September 16th 2011, 01:28 PM
HallsofIvy
Re: Dimension of an area?
Does the problem say "dimension of an area" or "dimensions of an area".