Final answer:
To find out how many gallons of gas can be purchased for $17, we can use a proportion. Using the given information that the cost of filling up the car with gas varies directly with the number of gallons, and that a gallon of gas costs $1.75, we can set up an equation to solve for the number of gallons. By dividing $17 by $1.75, we find that you could purchase approximately 9.71 gallons of gas for $17.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find out how many gallons you can purchase for $17, we need to set up a proportion using the information given. The total cost of filling up your car with gas varies directly with the number of gallons you are purchasing. This means that the cost per gallon is constant. Let's represent the number of gallons as 'x':
Cost of x gallons = x * cost per gallon
You are given that a gallon of gas costs $1.75, so the equation becomes:
Cost of x gallons = $1.75 * x
We are asked to find the number of gallons that can be purchased for $17. Let's substitute the given value into the equation:
$17 = $1.75 * x
To solve for 'x', divide both sides of the equation by $1.75:
x = $17 / $1.75
Using a calculator, we can find that x is approximately 9.71 gallons. Therefore, you could purchase about 9.71 gallons of gas for $17.