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)

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

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.

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.

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.