Question

In a race that consisted of three parts, the cycling part was 12 1/2 miles long. The running part of the rase was 1/4 the distance of the cycling part. The kayaking part of the race was 1/2 the distance of the running part. What was the entire distance in miles of the race

Answer 1

12.5 * .25=3 1/8 miles running part  
3.125 * .5=1 9/16 miles kayaking part
12.5+3.125+1.5625=17 3/16 miles total race

Answer 2

The cycling part was 12 1/2 miles long.

Hence the distance covered by cycling is 12.5 miles

The running part of the race was 1/4 the distance of the cycling part.

The running part is 0.25 of the cycling part.

So running part = 0.25 × 12.5 = 3.125 miles

The kayaking part of the race was 1/2 the distance of the running part.

So kayaking part is 0.5 of the running part.

So kayaking part = 0.5 × 3.125 = 1.5625 miles

Hence the total distance

= 12.5 + 3.125 + 1.5625

=17.1875 miles

The entire distance in miles of the race is 17.1875 miles