Question 776077:  Walking at a constant speed, a person walks 3/4 of a mile every 12 min. How far does the person walk in 30 min? How long does it take the person to walk 2 1/2 miles? (cannot use cross multiplication in this problem) 
 Answer by josgarithmetic(39630)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! Rate is   miles per minute. This is   miles per minute.
 
 
First question, let d = unknown distance in miles: 
 
 
 
Second question, let t = unknown time in minutes: 
 
 
 
You can solve both questions using multiplicative inverse property.  Cross multiplication is not needed.  The second question is more interesting, and maybe just slightly more complicated ------ but still, you only need the idea of multiplicative inverse.  
 
 
 
Start by changing the mixed number into improper fraction: 
  
Next, USE the multiplicative inverse of something and apply to both sides; do you know what/which to choose?  You see t as a denominator.  What can or do you want to do with this?  
 
 
 
As a general example, given y is unknown, and having  , the right side contains the multiplicative inverse of y.  You can use the multiplicative inverse of the multiplicative inverse of y; which is simply, y. 
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 , using multiplicative inverse of   
  
  
More steps were shown just to help see clearly the process and meaning.   
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