It depends on what you mean by "=".

On Mon, Aug 13, 2012 at 9:11 AM, Jim Devine <[email protected]> wrote:

> thanks!!
>
> On Mon, Aug 13, 2012 at 9:09 AM, Gil Skillman <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> >
> >>suppose we have a function Q = K^a*L*^(1-a). Is it possible for K and
> >>L to be measured in different units? different units from Q? (if, for
> >>example, K is measured in "leets" and L is measured in hours, what are
> >>the units of Q?)
> >
> > Sure.  The function maps values from the K and L dimensions, measured in
> > their respective units whatever they happen to be, into values in the Q
> > dimension, measured in its units, whatever they happen to be.  Let's say
> Q
> > is measured in tons of steel.  Divide both sides of the function by L
> (for
> > example), and the dependent variable is then measured in tons of steel
> per
> > unit of labor input.  The dimensions have to be mutually consistent
> across
> > the variables in an equation only if the equation is expressing a
> > relationship within a given dimension, e.g. Q = (Q/L)*L.  To take another
> > example, if I say that global mean temperature is a function of tons of
> > fossil fuel consumption and acres of forest, nothing compels me to
> > understand global mean temperature in some composite of fuel tons and
> > forest acres.
> >
> > Fwiw,
> > Gil
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>--
> >>Jim Devine / If you're going to support the lesser of two evils, you
> >>should at least know the nature of that evil.
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>
>
> --
> Jim Devine / If you're going to support the lesser of two evils, you
> should at least know the nature of that evil.
> _______________________________________________
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>



-- 
Cheers,

Tom Walker (Sandwichman)
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