Final answer:
B) 4 chapters per hour.Maria reads at a rate of 4 chapters per hour, as calculated by dividing the total chapters (36) by the total hours (9).
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is option B, which is 4 chapters per hour. To calculate Maria's reading rate, we divide the total number of chapters she reads by the total number of hours she spends reading. Therefore, if Maria reads 36 chapters in 9 hours, we calculate her rate as:
Rate = Total chapters / Total hours
Rate = 36 chapters / 9 hours
Rate = 4 chapters per hour
This rate means that, on average, Maria reads 4 chapters in one hour. Understanding rate and being able to calculate it is a fundamental skill in mathematics, often applied in various real-life situations, such as reading, driving, and working.