Final answer:
To calculate the total rainfall over 8 hours at a rate of 1 1/2 inches per hour, you multiply 1 1/2 by 8, yielding a total of 12 inches of rain.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the local news reports rainfall at 1 1/2 inches per hour and the rain continues for 8 hours, we can calculate the total amount of rain that will fall during this period. To find this, we simply multiply the hourly rainfall rate by the number of hours.
The calculation is as follows:
1 1/2 inches/hour × 8 hours = 3/2 inches/hour × 8 hours
To multiply, first convert 1 1/2 inches to an improper fraction. That is 1 × 2 + 1 = 3/2 inches. Now multiply this by 8.
(3/2) × 8 = 3 × 8 / 2 = 24/2 = 12 inches of rain
Therefore, if the rainfall continues at the reported rate for 8 hours, the total rainfall would be 12 inches.