Expert: Abe Mantell - 1/6/2010

Question
Ok, this is the question. *Elizabeth can run 5 miles in 2/3 of an hour. At this rate, how long does it take her to run 1 mile?* So my question is, how many miles is 2/3 of an hour? I'm not very good at fractions like that and stuff so that's why I need your help.
Thanks!

Answer
Hello Emily,

We can set-up a ratio with distance/time=distance=time
So, 5/(2/3)=1/x, where x is the time required to run 1 mile (at the same rate
as she ran the 5 miles).  Cross multiplying, we get: 5x=2/3, divide by 5 ==> x=2/15
So 1 mile would take (at the same rate) 2/15 of an hour = (2/15)*60 minutes = 8 minutes.

Another way to look at is...2/3 of an hour is 40 minutes.  5 miles in 40 minutes
is 5/40 of a mile per minute = 1/8 of a mile per minute...so 8 minutes to run 1 mile.

OK?

Abe