Convert Units with Ratios
Switchyard Express
Set a conversion switch, cancel matching units, and choose the measurement that sends your engine down the track. Practice converting feet and inches and changing speeds between feet per second and feet per minute.
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How to Play Switchyard Express
- 1
Read the destination unit
The order shows the starting measurement and the unit your engine needs at the end.
- 2
Set the conversion switch
Select the fraction that places the starting unit you need to cancel opposite its match. Look for the crossed-out pair on the switchboard.
- 3
Choose the converted measurement
Multiply the top numbers and divide by the bottom numbers. Select the matching ticket to dispatch the engine.
- 4
Keep the trains moving
Choose Next delivery to move to a new job. After six deliveries, choose Play again for another run.
Key Features
Set the conversion switch
Compare two orientations of the same conversion factor. Choose the one that puts the unit you want to cancel on the opposite side of the fraction bar.
See the units cancel
Matching units are crossed out on the switchboard, leaving the requested unit in place. A reversed switch shows the factor and explains why it cannot cancel the starting unit.
Send out the engine
Choose the converted measurement to move the engine along the rails. If you miss, the switchboard stays open and you can try another value.
Complete six deliveries
A correct delivery earns 100 points. Mistakes reset your streak. Each replay mixes new quantities into length and speed jobs.
What is Switchyard Express?
Switchyard Express is a sixth-grade math game about expressing a measurement in a different unit. Each job presents an engine, a measurement, and a destination unit. Orient the conversion factor so the correct units cancel, then choose the equivalent measurement to send the engine out. For 5 feet in inches, use 12 inches over 1 foot. The feet cancel, and 5 × 12 gives 60 inches. In a rate job, 5 feet per second times 60 seconds over 1 minute gives 300 feet per minute. Here the seconds in the original rate are already below the fraction bar, so the factor needs seconds on top.
Why Play Switchyard Express?
- 1
Connect a unit fact to a fraction
One foot and twelve inches name the same length, so either orientation of that ratio has a value of one.
- 2
Let the units choose the operation
The same 12-to-1 relationship can call for multiplication or division depending on the destination unit.
- 3
Keep the rate denominator straight
The switchboard shows how seconds or minutes cancel below the original rate while feet stay on top.
- 4
Retry with a specific clue
Feedback points to the position of the units or to the arithmetic on the board, so you can adjust the move on the same delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conversions are in the game?
Convert feet to inches, inches to feet, feet per second to feet per minute, and feet per minute to feet per second.
Why does the orientation matter?
Both conversion fractions represent one. Only the orientation with matching units across a fraction bar cancels the unit that needs to change.
What happens when I choose the wrong switch or ticket?
The engine waits. Check the hint on the switchboard and try again. Your score stays in place and your streak resets.
Can I play without a mouse?
Yes. Move through the buttons with Tab, then press Enter or Space to select one. Touch and mouse controls are also available.
What does the game save?
Best score and the Sound or Mute preference are saved in your browser. Play again resets the current score and streak.
