Question

In 1970, a record 1.5 inches of rain fell in one minute at Brasse Terre, Guadalupe in the Caribbean. At this rate how much rain fell in 3 seconds or 0.05 of a minute? A 3 inches... B 0.075 inch... C 0.75 inch... D 30 inch. Pick one. Evan chose D as the correct answer. How did he get that answer?

Answer 1

B. 0.075 in

Evan apparently divided by time. He might do that if he were not paying attention to units.

Explanation:

The given rainfall rate is ...

... (1.5 in)/(60 s) = (1/40) in/s = 0.025 in/s

To find the rainfall in 3 s, you need to multiply rate by time:

... (0.025 in/s)×(3 s) = 0.075 in

If you keep the rate and time in terms of minutes, then you have:

... (1.5 in/min)×(0.05 min) = 0.075 in

_____

Evan apparently divided, instead. His number is not inches.

... (1.5 in/min)/(0.05 min) = 30 in/min² . . . . not the appropriate units for the problem