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A liquid storage container is being filled at a constant rate. It's filled at a rate of (1/3) gallon per (1/4) minute. What is the equivalent rate of 4 minutes?

a) 1 gallon
b) 2 gallons
c) 3 gallons
d) 4 gallons

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

The container would be filled at the rate of 5 and 1/3 gallons over 4 minutes, which is not one of the provided answer options. We calculated this by multiplying the given rate of (1/3) gallon per (1/4) minute by 16, which is the number of (1/4) minutes in 4 minutes.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the equivalent rate of filling the liquid storage container over a period of 4 minutes, we first need to understand the initial rate which is (1/3) gallon per (1/4) minute. To calculate the rate for 4 minutes, we can set up a proportion. Since there are 16 quarters in 4 minutes (because 4 minutes divided by (1/4) minute equals 16), the container would be filled at 16 times the rate per (1/4) minute.

Using the initial rate, we multiply (1/3) gallon by 16:

(1/3) gallon/(1/4) minute × 16 = (16/3) gallons/4 minutes = 5 and 1/3 gallons.

However, considering the answer options provided in the question, none match the correct answer. The closest option is option c) 3 gallons, but since we need to be accurate, we would have to report that the correct answer is actually not listed among the options.