# Where is the unit after a calculation?

I was playing with some of the new features, and when I type e.g.

Quantity[10, "ml"] + Quantity[250 - 100, "ml"]


I get

160 mL


as expected.

But when I want to solve the following equation

Solve[Quantity[x, "ml"] Quantity[5, "mol"] + Quantity[250 - x, "ml"] Quantity[7, "mol"] ==
Quantity[250, "ml"] Quantity[6, "mol"], x]


I get

{{x -> 125}}


without any unit. But x actually is in mL. So I'm wondering what I am getting wrong, i.e. why don't I get mL here?

thanks!

x is not in mL..it is just a pure number. Quantity[x, "ml"] is the 'thing' that is in mL.

To get what you want, you need to recast your Solve command as

Solve[x Quantity[5, "mol"] + (Quantity[250, "ml"] - x) Quantity[7,
"mol"] == Quantity[250, "ml"] Quantity[6, "mol"], x]


However, the result is a bit strange looking.

{{x -> Quantity[1/8000, ("Meters")^3]}}


It is, however, correct. Let's convert it to numerical form

Solve[
x Quantity[5, "mol"] + (Quantity[250, "ml"] - x) Quantity[7,
"mol"] == Quantity[250, "ml"] Quantity[6, "mol"], x] // N


gives

{{x -> Quantity[0.000125, ("Meters")^3]}}


Which looks right since 1 mL= 0.000001 m^3

How to force Mathematica to stick to mL, however, is another question.

Of course you could get back to mL by using UnitConvert. For example

UnitConvert[
x /. Solve[
x Quantity[5, "mol"] + (Quantity[250, "ml"] - x) Quantity[7,
"mol"] == Quantity[250, "ml"] Quantity[6, "mol"],
x] [[1]], "Milliliters"]


gives

Quantity[125, "Milliliters"]

• Not strange at all! UnitConvert[Quantity[1/8000, ("Meters")^3], "Milliliters"] = 125 mL. – P. Fonseca Dec 6 '12 at 21:48
• agreed. Perhaps I should have said 'unexpected' because one might like like to remain in Milliliters. – WalkingRandomly Dec 6 '12 at 21:54
• Thanks! I think I have to get used to Quantity a little more. – Mockup Dungeon Dec 7 '12 at 9:34