Final answer:
The student traveled a total of 387.5 miles during the trip. By dividing this by their car's fuel efficiency of 33 miles per gallon, we find they used 11.74 gallons of fuel. Multiplying this by the cost per gallon, $3.35, results in a total fuel cost of $39.33.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the total cost of fuel for the entire trip, we first need to determine the total distance traveled and then the total number of gallons used. The distance for each speed segment can be found by multiplying the speed by the time traveled at that speed:
- 65 mph for 2.5 hours = 65 mph × 2.5 hours = 162.5 miles
- 60 mph for 2 hours = 60 mph × 2 hours = 120 miles
- 70 mph for 1 hour = 70 mph × 1 hour = 70 miles
- 35 mph for 1 hour = 35 mph × 1 hour = 35 miles
Adding these distances together gives us the total distance traveled:
162.5 miles + 120 miles + 70 miles + 35 miles = 387.5 miles
Next, we calculate the amount of fuel used by dividing the total distance by the fuel efficiency:
387.5 miles ÷ 33 miles per gallon = 11.74 gallons (rounded to two decimal places)
Finally, we multiply the total gallons by the cost per gallon to find the total cost of fuel:
11.74 gallons × $3.35 per gallon = $39.33
Therefore, the total cost of fuel for the entire trip is $39.33.