Final answer:
To find the distance, the formula Distance = Speed × Time is used. After converting 45 minutes to 0.75 hours, the distance is calculated to be Distance = 72 mph × 0.75 h, which equals 54 miles.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the distance traveled when given time and speed, we use the basic formula:
Distance = Speed × Time
Since the student traveled south on I-44 for 45 minutes at an average speed of 72 mph, we'll first need to convert the time from minutes to hours to be consistent with the speed units (miles per hour).
45 minutes = 45/60 hours = 0.75 hours
Now, we can easily find the distance traveled:
Distance = 72 mph × 0.75 h = 54 miles
Therefore, the answer to the question is A) 54 miles.