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Calculate 1/3 mile in 1/6 hour

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Unit rates with fractions · Foundations

Step by step

The question

Question: 1/3 mile in 1/6 hour: how much is that per hour?

13 mile in 16 hour

A unit rate says how much for 1 hour.

Per hour means: divide by the hours.

per hour = ÷ hours

1 Write the rate

Miles divided by hours: 1/3 ÷ 1/6.

= 13 ÷ 16
miles ÷ hours

Careful!

Not the other way round.

That would be hours per mile.

Careful: not 16 ÷ 13 ✗

2 Divide

Dividing by a fraction is the same as times its flip.

Keep the first number.

Change divide to times.

Turn the second fraction upside down.

÷ 16 → × 61

So 1/6 becomes 6, and divide becomes times.

= 13 × 61

Before we multiply, we make the numbers smaller.

6 on top and 3 at the bottom both divide by 3.

A top and a bottom divided by the same number: the answer stays the same.

6 and 3: ÷ 3 → 2 and 1

So we multiply smaller numbers.

= 11 × 21

1 times 2 is 2.

So the unit rate is 2 miles per hour.

= 2 miles per hour

3 Check

Let's check: 2 miles per hour, for 1/6 hour.

2 times 1/6 is 1/3.

That is the miles we started with.

So the answer is right!

2 × 16 = 13

Let's look back.

First: write the rate.

Then: divide.

Last: check.

Answer
= 2 miles per hour

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

12 mile in 14 hour
Show the answer
2 miles per hour

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