Question

Ms. Sweeney drove back from Indiana instead of flying back. If the total trip was 11 hours and 40 minutes, and she slept for 4 hours and 20 minutes(someone else was driving), what fraction of the time was she awake?

Answer 1

Katherine, this is the solution to the problem:

Time of the trip = 11 hours and 40 minutes

Time Ms. Sweeney slept = 4 hours and 20 minutes

Step 1: Let's convert the times given to minutes only, this way:

11 hours and 40 minutes = 11 * 60 + 40 = 660 + 40

11 hours and 40 minutes = 700 minutes

4 hours and 20 minutes = 4 * 60 + 20 = 240 + 20

4 hours and 20 minutes = 260 minutes

Step 2: Let's calculate the fraction of the time Ms. Sweeney was awake

Time she was sleeping = 260/700

Time she was awake = 700 - 260/700 = 440/700

Simplifying, we have:

440/700

Dividing by 100:

44/70

Dividing by 2:

22/35

Ms. Sweeney was awake 22/35 of the time.