Final answer:
To determine the time it takes for the duck to swim across the pond, divide the distance of 23 feet by the duck's speed of 1.2 ft/sec, which results in 19.17 seconds.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find out how long it will take the duck to swim to the other side of the pond, which is 23 feet away, you can use the formula for speed speed = distance/time. Given that the duck swims at a speed of 1.2 ft/sec, you can rearrange the formula to solve for time: time = distance/speed.
Using the given values:
- Distance = 23 feet
- Speed = 1.2 feet per second
You get:
time = 23 feet / 1.2 feet per second = 19.17 seconds
Therefore, the correct answer to how long it will take the duck to swim across the pond is 19.17 seconds, which matches option (a).