Question

A student athlete runs 3 1/3 miles in 30 minutes. A professional runner can run 1 1/4 times as far in 30 minutes. How far can the professional runner run in 30 minutes?

Answer 1

Step 1)  In order to do this correctly you must make the fraction improper. 10/3 and 5/4

Step 2) To multiply two fractions the denominators (bottom numbers) must be the same. So you take 10/3 and times both the numerator (top number) and the denominator and times them by 4, giving you 40/12. Then you take 5/4 and times the numerator and denominator by 3, giving you 15/12.

Step 3) You then times the numerators together, 40 and 15, and the denominators together 12 and 12. Which give you 600/144 which simplifies into 25/6.

Step 4) Simplify the fraction by figuring out how many times 6 goes into 25 which is 4 and leaves you with 1/6 left over. Giving you your answer 4 1/6 miles.