Megan finished 12 math problems in one hour. At this rate, how many hours will take her to complete 72 problems?

3 Answers
Feb 1, 2016

#6 " hours"#

Explanation:

Since #72=6xx12#

If
#color(white)("XXX")12 " math problems"# take #1 " hour"#
then
#color(white)("XXX")6xx12 " math problems "# take #6xx1 " hours"#

i.e.
#color(white)("XXX")72 " math problems "# take #6 " hours"#

Feb 1, 2016

Let's make proportion.

1 hour for 12 problems
x hours for 72 problems

x = 72/12 = 6

Feb 1, 2016

#x=6" hours"#

Explanation:

How ever you choose to approach this, you will find that they are all based on this ratio fact:

#("time taken")/("work done")#

So the initial condition is: #1/12#

This is presumed to be constant so,
let the unknown time (hours) be #x#:

#1/12=x/72#

Then multiply both sides by 72:

#x=72xx1/12#

#x=6#

#color(brown)("Don't forget the units! This little thing will get you more marks!!")#

#x=6" hours"#