Question 11 on the MAT0020/24C Beginning Algebra State Exam

Translate a Word Problem into a Proportion

Solution:

Identify the proportion listed below that solves this problem:

A car can travel 500 miles on 5 gallons of gasoline.

How far can the car travel on 32 gallons of gasoline?    

The first step is to determine how to step up the way the proportion will be written.

One way is:     

So the proportion set up will be:

Since that is not an option, another way to set up the proportion is:

The solution is: 

Remember to solve a proportion, multiply the diagonal values.

The first step to solve:   is

This is the same as:   is

Practice Problems for Question 11

Translate a Word Problem into a Proportion

Solutions Below

1.  Identify the proportion listed below that solves this problem:

A car can travel 415 miles on 8 gallons of gasoline.  How far can the car travel on 25 gallons?

a.                 b.                  c.                 d. 

2.  Identify the proportion listed below that solves this problem:

If 46 pounds of jelly beans cost 65 cents, how many pounds of jelly beans can be purchased for 130 cents?

a.                 b.                 c.                 d. 

3.  Identify the proportion listed below that solves this problem:

If Jim can eat 10 pies in 20 minutes, how many pies could Jim eat in 45 minutes?

a.                   b.                  c.                   d. 

4.  Identify the proportion listed below that solves this problem:

A shoe factory can produce 1000 pairs of shoes every 3 hours.  How long would it take the shoe factory to produce 5000 pairs of shoes?

a.           b.           c.                 d. 

Solutions:

1.  a                 2.  b                 3.  a                 4.  d