How math is used in firefighting Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How math is used in firefighting - Research Paper Example According to the website XP Math, there are at least 20 Math topics that fire fighters need to know. Some of these fall under the realms of Basic Math/Algebra, First Year Algebra (which includes the use of formula), Geometry and Computer (T.L. Hui). Algebra is used in fire fighting hydraulics specifically in calculating the flow rates and capacities (WikiAnswers.com). There are fire fighting terms such as total engine pressure and nozzle pressure. â€Å"Total Engine Pressure is the amount of pressure (psi) that the fire pump (on the truck) is sending through the hose line. The engineer calculates the total engine pressure to adjust for changes in elevation pressure so that the nozzle can receive the correct amount of water pressure (in psi)† (San Bernardino Professional Fire Fighters). There is also the concept of nozzle pressure. It stands for â€Å"the amount of pressure that the nozzle requires to deliver the proper amount of water to the fire† (San Bernardino Professional Fire Fighters). To calculate the accuracy of this, mathematicians have created the nozzle pressure formula, given as: Where n – nozzle pressure in psi, t – total engine pressure and h – change in elevation. This formula â€Å"can be used to find out what the nozzle pressure is for a given height with a specific total engine pressure† (San Bernardino Professional Fire Fighters). There are other applications of math in fire fighting. Math is being used in perimeter, fractions, ratios, percentage and area of burns. The perimeter of burn is â€Å"the distance around the fire or along the hand line† and it is â€Å"determined by adding the lengths of the various lines that enclose the black area of a fire† (SEM and Missoula Fire Science Lab). There are also hydraulic concepts regarding the use of water in wildland firefighting. â€Å"These include determining