SOLUTION: Hello could you please help me with this Algebra math problem? Im very confused as to how to solve it!! The separate sections of rail on a railroad track are 30 ft. long. As the

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Question 223938: Hello could you please help me with this Algebra math problem? Im very confused as to how to solve it!!
The separate sections of rail on a railroad track are 30 ft. long. As the train passes over the point where the sections are joined, there is an audible click. By what fraction must the number of clicks in a minute be multiplied to find the speed of the train in miles
per hour?
Thank you!
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
An interesting problem
:
The separate sections of rail on a railroad track are 30 ft. long.
As the train passes over the point where the sections are joined, there is an audible click.
By what fraction must the number of clicks in a minute be multiplied to find the speed of the train in miles per hour.
:
Let n = no. of clicks per min
:
Each click represents 30 ft, therefore
30n = ft/min
then
60*30n = 1800n ft/hr
:
convert to mph
%281800n%29%2F5280 = mph
:
It asks what fraction times no. of clicks give mph
%281800%29%2F5280 reduces to 45%2F132, multiply the no. of clicks by this value to get mph.
;
:
Check this with an example, we know that 60 mph is 1 mi/min, or 5280 ft/min
5280%2F30 = 176 clicks per min
:
See if this works: 45%2F132 * 176 = 60 mph!
:
:
Did this clear things up for you? Do you have any questions about it.