Order the following numbers from least to greatest

A snail can move 1/30 miles in 1/3 hour. How fast does a snail move in miles /hours

bekas [8.4K]

Answer: 1/10 miles/hour

To find how fast a snail moves in miles per hour, we can find the unit rate using a proportion.

The unit rate is the amount per one unit. In this problem, the unit is for one hour. One way to find the unit rate is by using a proportion.

<h2>Proportions</h2>

Proportions look like two fractions set equal to each other with a missing variable to solve.

<h3>State our variables</h3>

let <em>x</em> be the number of miles per hour

<h3>Write a proportion</h3>

The first fraction has a number for the numerator (top) and denominator (bottom), because the question gives us the information. The second fraction has a missing value, <em>x</em>, that we are solving for. We can write <em>x</em> in the numerator.

$\displaystyle{\frac{\frac{1}{30}\ mi}{\frac{1}{3}\ hr} = \frac{x\ mi}{1\ hr}}$

<h2>Solve</h2>

We can solve by finding the scale factor. The scale factor is the number we can multiply the numerator by to find <em>x</em>.

<h3>Find the scale factor</h3>

Start with the proportion.

$\displaystyle{\frac{\frac{1}{30}\ mi}{\frac{1}{3}\ hr} = \frac{x\ mi}{1\ hr}}$

To find the scale factor,

Take the denominator from the fraction with a variable: $1\ hr$
Take the denominator from the fraction that has no variable: $\frac{1}{3}\ hr$
Divide step 1 by step 2 and solve: $1\ hr\ \div\ \frac{1}{3}\ hr = 3$

Our scale factor is <u>3</u>.

<h3>Solve for x</h3>

We can find <em>x</em> by multiplying the numerator in the first fraction by the scale factor. This is because <em>x</em> is also in the numerator.

$\displaystyle{\frac{\frac{1}{30}\ mi}{\frac{1}{3}\ hr} = \frac{(\frac{1}{30}\ mi)*3}{1\ hr}}$