A car is traveling at a steady speed. It travels 1 1/2 miles in 2 1/4 minutes. How far will it travel in 26 minutes​? In ​1 hour?

Answer 1

Hi Ella,

You can solve these problems by determining the unit rate for car (or the distance traveled in 1 minute).

1 1/2 is equivalent to 3/2 and 2 1/4 is equivalent to 9/4.

The unit rate will be :

3/2 miles = x

9/4 min 1 min

3/2 ÷ 9/4 = 2/3 mile

9/4 ÷ 9/4 1 min

Now use this unit rate to find how far the car will travel in 26 minutes:

2/3 mile • 26 min =52/3 miles or 17 and 1/3 miles

1 min

Since 1 hour is equal to 60 minutes, we can multiply the unit rate by 60 to find the distance traveled in 1 hour:

2/3 mile • 60 min = 120 /3 = 40 miles traveled in 1 hour

1 min