Bulan rows on a crew team. Her team rows their boat at a split (rate) of $\frac{2 min}{500 m}$. What is Bulan's team's rowing rate in $\frac{ m }{\min }$?
Answer (1)
The problem provides the rowing rate as 500 m 2 min .
To find the rate in min m , we take the reciprocal of the given rate: 2 min 500 m .
Simplify the fraction: 2 500 = 250 .
The rowing rate is 250 min m .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given that Bulan's team rows at a rate of 500 m 2 min . We want to find the rowing rate in meters per minute, which is min m .
Finding the Reciprocal To find the rate in min m , we need to find the reciprocal of the given rate. So we have 2 min 500 m
Simplifying the Fraction Now we simplify the fraction: 2 min 500 m = 250 min m
Final Answer Therefore, Bulan's team's rowing rate is 250 min m .
Examples
Understanding rates is crucial in many real-life scenarios. For instance, if you're driving a car, knowing your speed in miles per hour (miles/hour) helps you estimate how long it will take to reach your destination. Similarly, if you're baking a cake, knowing the oven's temperature (degrees/minute) ensures your cake cooks properly. In sports, like rowing, understanding the rate at which a team moves (meters/minute) helps coaches and athletes optimize their performance and plan their training effectively. This concept of rates is fundamental in physics, engineering, and everyday decision-making.
