The following word problem is for practicing the application of calculations.

Example 2:

The flow through a channel is measured and found to be 14 cubic feet per second. What is the flow in gallons per minute?

To solve this problem, use the conversion factors that give gallons in terms of cubic feet and minutes in terms of seconds. Multiply the cubic feet per second by gallons per cubic feet to get gallons per second and divide gallons per seconds by one second per minute to get gallons per minute.

Conversion factors: cubic feet × 7.48 = gallons
                              seconds ÷ 60 = minutes
                    

14 × 7.48 = gallons/seconds
14 × 7.48 = 104.72
104.72 ÷ (1/60) = gallons per minute
104.72 ÷ (1/60) = 6283.2

The flow through the channel is 6,283.2 gallons per minute.