Problem 11 - Prealgebra

Question

Express each of the following rates as a ratio with the given units. Miles/Liter The gas tank on a car has a capacity of 75 liters. On a full tank of gas, the car travels 325 miles. What is the gas mileage in miles per liter?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The gas mileage is approximately 4.333 miles per liter.

Step 1: Identify given values

We are given that the gas tank has a capacity of 75 liters, and with a full tank, the car travels 325 miles. These values are essential for calculating the gas mileage.

Step 2: Setup the ratio

To find the gas mileage in miles per liter, we set up a ratio using the given values of distance traveled and fuel capacity: \[\text{Gas mileage} = \frac{325 \text{ miles}}{75 \text{ liters}}\]

Step 3: Calculate the ratio

We perform the division to find out how many miles are covered per liter:\[\frac{325}{75} \approx 4.333\]

Step 4: Express the result

The gas mileage of the car is approximately 4.333 miles per liter. This means that for every liter of fuel, the car travels about 4.333 miles.

Key Concepts

Understanding Miles per Liter

Miles per liter is a measurement of how efficiently a vehicle uses fuel. It tells us how many miles a car can travel using one liter of fuel. This calculation is important for vehicle owners because it can help them determine the fuel efficiency of their cars.

• For example, a vehicle that travels more miles per liter is more fuel-efficient.
• A higher miles per liter figure indicates better performance in terms of fuel consumption.

Understanding this concept is crucial when comparing different cars. It gives you a clear picture of which car offers the most economical use of fuel. Knowing how many miles you can travel on a liter of gas helps budget trips and manage costs effectively.

Decoding Gas Mileage

Gas mileage is a term often used to describe a vehicle's fuel efficiency. It usually specifies how far a vehicle can travel on a certain amount of fuel. In this context, it's expressed as miles per liter.

• Gas mileage is an essential factor when buying or using a vehicle.
• It reflects how cost-effective a vehicle's fuel consumption is.

As we calculated in the exercise, a car that offers 4.333 miles per liter means it travels 4.333 miles on just one liter of fuel.
Picking a vehicle with good gas mileage can significantly reduce the cost of long-term vehicle ownership.

Basics of Unit Conversion

Unit conversion is a fundamental skill, especially when dealing with measurements like gas mileage. It allows you to translate one unit of measurement into another, making calculations comprehensible and universal.

• In our exercise, we dealt with converting miles and liters to a usable, comparative format, i.e., miles per liter.
• Understanding unit conversion helps you move between measurement systems effortlessly.

The world uses various systems, including metric (liters) and imperial (miles). Being able to convert between these systems is crucial in daily scenarios like understanding vehicle efficiency or planning long-distance travel. Make sure you grasp these conversions to seamlessly integrate data from different units.