Question

Candice rode her bike at a constant speed. She traveled 36 miles in 1 1/2 hours. How can she find her unit rate in miles per hour?

A. Subtract 1 1/2 from 36
B. Add 1 1/2 to 36
C. Multiply 36 by 1 1/2
D. Divide 36 by 1 1/2

Answer 1

To find Candice's constant speed in miles per hour, divide the total distance by the total time. The correct choice is D. Divide 36 by 1 1/2, which equals 24 miles per hour.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find Candice's unit rate in miles per hour, which represents her constant speed, you should divide the total distance traveled by the total time taken. Therefore, the correct option is D. Divide 36 by 1 1/2.

Here's the step-by-step process:

1. Identify the total distance traveled (36 miles) and the total time taken (1 1/2 hours).
2. Write down the formula for average speed, which is distance traveled divided by time.
3. Convert 1 1/2 hours into an improper fraction, which is 3/2 hours.
4. Divide 36 miles by 3/2 hours to find the speed in miles per hour. Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal, so this is equivalent to multiplying 36 miles by 2/3.
5. The calculation will be 36 miles × 2/3 = 72/3 = 24 miles per hour. So, Candice's constant speed is 24 miles per hour.

It is important to check whether the answer is reasonable. Since 1 1/2 hours is 1.5 hours, and 36 miles divided by 1.5 gives us 24, the answer seems reasonable.