Final Answer:
An environmental consultant earns $60 for working 45 minutes at a rate of $80 per hour.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the earnings for 45 minutes of work at an hourly rate of $80, we first need to determine the fraction of an hour represented by 45 minutes. As there are 60 minutes in an hour, 45 minutes is equivalent to 45 / 60 or 3 /4 of an hour. Given the consultant's hourly rate is $80, we multiply the hourly rate by the fraction of the hour worked:
$80/hour × 3 /4 hour = $60.
Therefore, for 45 minutes of work, the environmental consultant earns $60. This calculation is based on the proportional relationship between the time worked and the hourly rate. As 45 minutes represent 3/ 4 of an hour, the earnings can be determined by multiplying the hourly rate by this fraction, resulting in the consultant earning $60 for this duration of work.