What you’ll learn
Solve rate and ratio word problems.
Key idea
Constant-speed distance equals speed multiplied by elapsed time.
Distance is rate times time; adding quantities with different units does not produce miles.
Worked example
Enter the exact value or ordered values in the format requested below.
A cyclist travels 6 miles in 2 hours at constant speed. How many miles does the cyclist travel in 7 hours? Include miles.
- Normalize the first trip: 6÷2=3 miles per hour.
- At that rate, 7 hours give 3×7=21 miles.
Answer: 21 miles
Quick Check
Evaluate a worked attempt at solve rate and ratio word problems, identify the first invalid step, and provide the correction.
A student writes Step 1: 10 miles in 2 hours gives 5 miles per hour. Step 2: in 10 hours, distance is 5+10=15 miles. Locate the first invalid step and correct it.