GMAT Practice Question: How many seconds will it take for a car that is traveling at a constant rate of 45 miles per...
Question
How many seconds will it take for a car that is traveling at a constant rate of 45 miles per hour to travel a distance of 220 yards? ( 1 mile =1,760 yards)
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Topics: word problems, conversions, rates
Solution
Step 1
We first convert the distance from yards into miles using the given conversion factor.
220 \text{ yards} = \frac{220}{1760} \text{ miles}
Step 2
We simplify the fraction by canceling common factors.
\frac{220}{1760} = \frac{\cancel{220}\times1}{\cancel{220}\times8} = \frac{1}{8}
Step 3
We apply the formula that time equals distance divided by speed to find the time in hours.
t = \frac{\frac{1}{8} \text{ miles}}{45 \frac{\text{miles}}{\text{hour}}}
Step 4
We multiply by the reciprocal of the speed and simplify the units.
\frac{\frac{1}{8} \text{ miles}}{45 \frac{\text{miles}}{\text{hour}}} = \frac{1}{8} \times \frac{1}{45} \text{ hours} = \frac{1}{360} \text{ hours}
Step 5
We convert the time from hours into seconds using the fact that one hour has 3,600 seconds.
\frac{1}{360} \text{ hours} = \frac{1}{360} \times 3600 \text{ seconds} = 10 \text{ seconds}
Answer
10 seconds
