Final answer:
There are 21 states in the continental United States that border an ocean. This is determined by dividing the total number of states by the sum of the ratio 7:9 and then multiplying by the part of the ratio that represents states bordering an ocean.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is about calculating the number of U.S. states that border an ocean given a ratio of states that border an ocean to states that do not. Since the total number of states in the continental United States is 48 (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), we can use the provided ratio of 7:9 to determine the number of states that border an ocean.
- First, we need to add the two parts of the ratio together: 7 (border an ocean) + 9 (do not border an ocean) = 16.
- Next, divide the total number of states, 48, by the sum of the ratio, 16, to find out how many times the ratio fits into the total number of states. This gives us 48 / 16 = 3.
- Finally, multiply the part of the ratio that represents states bordering an ocean, 7, by the number we just calculated, 3. This gives us 7 * 3 = 21.
Therefore, 21 states in the continental United States border an ocean.