Question

Popcorn kernels pop independently (i.e. unimolecularly). For one brand at constant temperature, 7 kernels pop in 10 seconds when 180 kernels are present. After 75 kernels have popped, how many kernels will pop in 10 seconds? (Your answer may include fractions of a kernel).

Answer 1

In 10 seconds, after 75 kernels have popped, they should pop 161/36 kernels.

Explanation:

You can solve this problem with a rule of three, if you remove 75 kernels, you have 115 left, and in 10 seconds you may expect a proportional amount of popcorn kernels dropping.

If for 180 kernels 7 drop, then for 115 kernels the amount that drops is

7/180 * 115 = 161/36 popcorn kernels.