Final answer:
By setting up a proportion based on Esme's previous reading time, we can conclude it will take her 54 minutes to read 36 pages.
Step-by-step explanation:
To figure out how long it will take Esme to read 36 pages based on her previous reading time, we use a proportion where the number of pages is directly proportional to the time taken.
If 12 pages took her 18 minutes, then we expect 36 pages to take her three times as long, because 36 is three times 12. The math would look like this:
12 pages / 18 minutes = 36 pages / x minutes.
To solve for x, you can set up a ratio and proportion or use cross multiplication:
- 12/18 = 36/x
- 12x = 36 * 18
- x = (36 * 18) / 12
- x = 648 / 12
- x = 54
Therefore, it will take Esme 54 minutes to read 36 pages.