The fastest speed recorded for a runner is 27 miles per hour. This is 20% of the fastest speed for a water skier. Find the record for a water skier.

Question

I got two answers. 135 and 5.4

Answer 1

Let x = the fastest speed for a water skier

 

Translate:

"27 miles per hour . . . is 20% of the fastest speed for a water skier"     means

     27 mph                =   (20/100) *       x

 

  Note:  20% may be written as (20/100) or 0.20 as needed by the problem.

   In word (story) problems, the word "of" usually means multiply.   

 

     27 mph = (20/100)x

    (100/20)*27 mph = x             [multiply both sides by (100/20)

                            [note: this is dividing x by 20% as another tutor suggested]

 

       135 mph = x

Answer 2

Abhishek,

135 mph is the correct answer. To find this you first would take 27 miles per hour and divide it by 20% to find the original speed of the water skier since they essentially went 80% faster than the runner did which would make the correct answer 135 mph. 5.4 mph would not make sense in this case as the water skier would not be going slower than the runner, but would instead be going 80% faster.

Answer 3

27 is 20% of what number ?

27=0.2*W

W=27/0.2

W=270/2

W=135 mph