Final answer:
Given that the patient's pulse beats 12 times in 15 seconds, we can set up a proportion. Cross-multiplying and dividing, we find that the patient's pulse per minute is 48 beats.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the patient's pulse per minute, we need to convert the given beats per second to beats per minute.
Given that the patient's pulse beats 12 times in 15 seconds, we can set up a proportion:
12 beats / 15 seconds = x beats / 60 seconds (1 minute)
Cross-multiplying, we get:
15x = 12 * 60
Dividing both sides by 15, we find:
x = 48 beats per minute
Therefore, the patient's pulse per minute is 48 beats.