Math Tutorial Oct.

25, ‘18

Please read these few pages before registering for the “the Principals of Moving
Air.” If you can successfully work through these 7 examples, your math is more than
adequate to enable you able to focus on the fun parts of this course.

Item #3, says that an equation must remain equal on both sides, Item #7 reminds
you to not mix the units of measure such as inches and feet etc, #8 reminds you of the
general order of doing math calculations. #9 reminds you of how to use a fancy
calculator, if you have one. (this is not required) All examples except # 3 are specific to
moving air and illustrate the math steps with practical examples. Please don’t be
intimidated; be patient with yourself and walk through step by step.

1. Ducts, Perimeters, areas and volumes of a solid object

Perimeter (P) is the amount of sheet metal required to make the duct (not including the
seam)

Round Duct (pipe)

P = 2πr and for 7”ø duct
P = 2 x 3.14 x 7
2
= 2 x 3.14 x 3.5
= 22.0 inches
Converting to feet
P = 22 inches x 1 foot
12 inches
= 22 feet
12

= 1.8 feet (ft.)

Rectangular (or square) Duct

P = (W + H) x 2 and for 14 inch x 8 inch duct
= 14 + 8) x 2
= 22 x 2
= 44 inches
Converting to feet
P = 44 inches x 1 foot
12 inches
= 44 feet
12

= 3.7 feet (ft.)

The cross section area of a duct is the area enclosed by the duct which the air flows
through.

Round Duct (pipe)

A = πr2 and for 7”ø duct radius = 3.5 inches
= 3.14 x 3.52
= 3.14 x 12.25
= 38.5 sq. in. or (in2)
Converting to square feet (ft. 2) 144 sq. in. = 1 sq. ft. same as 144 in.2 = 1 ft.2
A = 38.5 in. 2 x 1
144
= .267 square feet (or ft.2)

Rectangular (or square) Duct

A =WxH and for 14 inch x 8 inch duct
= 14 x 8
= 112 sq. in.

Converting to square feet (ft. 2)

A = 112 in. 2
144

= .78 square feet (or ft. 2)

The volume of a duct is meaningless, but the volume of air moving per minute through a
cross section of a duct is very important.

Volume of rectangular block

V = W x T x H and for W = 14 in., T = 8” and H= 13”
= 14 x 8 x 13
= 1456 cubic inches

Converting to cubic feet (ft. 3)

V = 1456 in. 3
12 x 12 x 12
= .84 cubic feet (or ft. 3)

Volume of cylindrical block

V = πr2 x H and for Diameter = 7 in. & H= 13” radius = 3 ½”
= π x (3.5 in) 2 X 13 cubic inches (or in.3)
= 3.14 x 3.52 x 13 in3.
= 3.14 x 12.25 x 13
= 500 cubic inches or (in3)

Converting to cubic feet (ft. 3)

V = 500 in. 3
12 x 12 x 12)

= 500
1728

= .29 cubic feet (or ft. 3)

2) Multiply & Divide Triangle

POMA uses this simple triangle method as a math reminder on how handle 3 number
equations. For example:
This triangle contains 3 abbreviated terms:
cfm = volume flow rate in cubic feet per minute
fpm = velocity in feet per minute
area = duct cross section area

Using the Triangle:

cfm = fpm x area or

fpm = cfm or
area

area = cfm
fpm

3. Balance Math rule of thumb. Like bookkeeping, any change made to one side of an
equation, must be made equally to the other.

4) Ratios
Fan Law #1, says that cfm and rpm are directly related. This means that doubling
the cfm will require doubling the fan wheel rpm.

cfm2 = rpm2 cfm2 is the flow after you change the fan rpm
cfm1 rpm1 cfm1 is the flow rate initially, before the change

By multiplying both sides of this formula by cfm1, it can be re-written as follows.

cfm2 x cfm1 = rpm2 x cfm1

cfm1 rpm1

cfm2 = rpm2 x cfm1

rpm1

Example: if the initial fan rpm was 800 and air flow rate was 1400 cfm, if you raise the
rpm to 1000, what will be the new cfm?
cfm2 = 1000 x 1400
800

= 1.25 x 1400

= 1725

5a. Squares and square roots (squares)

Fan Law #2 says that the static pressure drop through duct and across filters and
through coils follows a square law. This means to double the air flow through a duct
system will require quadrupling (4 times) the static pressure.

Ps2 = cfm2 squared Ps2 is the static pressure after increasing the flow rate
Ps1 cfm1 Ps1 is the static pressure initially before making the change
By multiplying Ps1 to both sides of this formula, it can be re-written as follows. (Note:
both sides remain equal)
Where words squared, square root, cubed and cube root are shown in red, here in
these examples, this means divide the preceeding numerator by denominator first.

Ps2 x Ps1 = cfm2 squared x Ps1 or = (cfm2)2 x Ps1

Ps1 cfm1 (cfm1) 2

Ps2 = cfm2 squared x Ps1 = (cfm2)2 x Ps1

cfm1 (cfm1)2

Example: if the initial system flow rate was 1400 and initial system pressure (static
pressure = Ps) was .30” WC, if you need to raise the flow rate to 1725 cfm, the new
static pressure will rise to: note ‘or’: there are 2 ways to work this out.

Ps2 = 1725 squared x Ps1 ‘or’ = (1725)2 x Ps1

1400 (1400)2

= 1725 squared x .30 = (1725)2 x .30

1400 (1400)2

= (1.232)2 x .30 = 2,975,625 x .30

1,960,000
= 1.518 x .30 = 1.518 x .30
= .455 = .455

5b. Squares and square roots (square roots)

Using the square formula backwards requires understanding square roots. For
example, if you increased the pressure (static pressure) from .30” to .40” what would be
the new flow rate based on the initial 1400 cfm?

Ps2 = cfm2 squared Ps2 is the static pressure after increasing the flow rate
Ps1 cfm1 Ps1 is the static pressure initially before making the change

cfm2 squared = Ps2 (Reversing the left with the right side of the equation)
cfm1 Ps1

Square root both sides of equation. The square root of a square cancels out
cfm2 = Ps2 square root or = (Ps2) sq. root
cfm1 Ps1 (Ps1) sq. root

cfm2 x cfm1 = Ps2 square root x cfm1 = (Ps2) sq. root x cfm1
cfm1 Ps1 (Ps1) sq. root

cfm2 = .40 square root x 1400 = .40 sq. root x 1400

.30 .30 sq. root

= 1.3333 square root = .632 x 1400

.548

= 1.155 x 1400 = 1.155 x 1400

 = 1617 = 1617

6a. Cubes and cube roots (cubes)

Fan law #3 is the only time cubes and cube roots are required. This means to
double the air flow through a duct system requires 8 times the power. Wow!

Hp2 = cfm2 cubed Hp2 is the horse power required after increasing the flow rate
Hp1 cfm1 Hp1 is the horse power required initially before making the change

By multiplying Hp1 to both sides of this formula, it can be re-written as follows; while
both sides remain equal.

Hp2 x Hp1 = cfm2 cubed x Hp1 or = (cfm2)3 x Hp1

Hp1 cfm1 (cfm1)3

Hp2 = cfm2 cubed x Hp1 = (cfm2)3 x Hp1

cfm1 (cfm1)3

Example: The initial system flow rate was 1400 which required ¼ horse power, if you
need to raise the flow rate to 1725 cfm, the new motor would need to be:

Hp2 = 1725 cubed x 1/4 or = (1725)3 x Hp1

1400 (1400)3

= 1.232 cubed x 1/4 = 5.132 billion x 1/4

2.74 billion

= 1.87 x 1/4 = 1.87 x 1/4

= .47 = .47

6b. Cubes and cube roots (cube roots)

Using this formula backwards requires understanding cube roots. For example if
you increased the horse power from 1/4 to 1/3, how much could you increase the flow
rate based on having an initial 1400 cfm?

Hp2 = cfm2 cubed Hp2 is the static pressure after increasing the flow rate
Hp1 cfm1 Hp1 is the static pressure initially before making the change

cfm2 cubed = Hp2

cfm1 Hp1 Cube root both sides of equation. The cube root of a cube cancels out

cfm2 = Hp2 cube root or = (Hp2) cube root

cfm1 Hp1 (Hp1) cube root

By multiplying cfm1 to both sides of this formula, it can be re-written as follows. (while
both sides remain equal)

cfm2 x cfm1 = Hp2 cube root x cfm1 = (Hp2) cube root x cfm1
cfm1 Hp1 (Hp1) cube root
cfm2 = 1/3 cube root x 1400 = 1/3 cube root x 1400
1/4 1/4 cube root

= 1.3333 cube root x 1400 = .6933 x 1400

.6299

= 1.10 x 1400 = 1.10 x 1400

= 1540 (Note: not much increase) = 1540

7. Units
The conversion of units is critical, a large number of mistakes in the real world are
caused by conversion errors. (crash landing a Boeing 767 @ Gimley, Manitoba) Keep
the units in the calculation, at least initially. This will help convert all the measurements
into the correct units and prevent multiplying feet by inches!

Area in in2 = 12” x 12” = 144 in2

Area in ft2 = 1’ x 1’ = 1 ft2
1 ft2 = 144 in2

Volume in in3 = 12” x 12” x 12” = 1728in3

Volume in ft3 = 1’ x 1’ x 1’ = 1ft3
1 ft3 = 1728in3

Example) Calculate the airflow (cfm) given the velocity is 500 fpm in a 24” x 8” duct.
Given: v = 500 fpm A = 24” x 8”
Find: Airflow in cfm

Airflow = Area x velocity

cfm = (24” x 8”) x 500 fpm You should not multiply inches by feet, first convert the duct
area to square feet.

Duct area in square feet = 24 inches x 8 inches = 192 square inches

= 192 square inches x 1 square foot

144 square inches

= 192 square feet = 1.333 square feet or sq. ft. (or ft2)
144
Now calculate air flow (cfm) if velocity = 500 cubic feet per minute

CFM = Area x Velocity (no need to remember formulas, use the math ‘triangle’)

= 1.333 square feet x 500 feet

1 minute
= 1.333 x 500 cubic feet
1 minute

= 667 cubic feet per minute (cfm)

Note: For conversion problems, check the Common Factors Conversion Table.

8. Order of Operations (BEDMAS)

It is important to do math problems in the correct order. To help remember that, use the
acronym “BEDMAS” which stands for:
1. Brackets (x + y)
2. Exponents xn {and roots √x }
3. Division and Multiplication
4. Addition and Subtraction

9. Calculators, only read this if you use a scientific type, not required in this course

Note: If you enter information into a calculator, make sure the brackets are in the
correct place and place the exponent outside the brackets.

* if your calculator does not have a square root (somewhat common) guess the root,
square it then check if the guess was correct. 3 or 4 tries will give you a very close
answer.

Example for calculator)

The symbol implies known as a square root, but it is possible to have a number 3
in that top position.

* if your calculator does not have a cube root (not common) guess the root, cube it then
check if the guess was correct. 3 or 4 tries will give you a very close answer.

Most calculators have an X2 button and yx (which may appear as ^ ).

ex) 23 = 2 x 2 x 2 = 8
Calculator: 2 yx 3 enter

Some calculators will have as a button, but it may appear as and you must input
the number you want for X before pressing the button.

3 64 enter