ASVAB · Basic Operations and Word Problems

A car travels 165 miles using 5.5 gallons of gas. What is the car's fuel efficiency in miles per gallon?

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Correct answer

30 mpg

A 30 mpg
B 25 mpg
C 33 mpg
D 27.5 mpg

Why this is the answer

Miles per gallon is total miles divided by gallons used: 165 ÷ 5.5 = 30 mpg. Rate problems like this are solved by dividing the quantity (miles) by the unit you want it per (gallons). To divide by 5.5, you can multiply both numbers by 2 to clear the decimal: 330 ÷ 11 = 30. The car gets 30 miles per gallon. Keeping track of which quantity goes on top (the thing being measured, miles) and which on the bottom (the per-unit, gallons) is the key to setting up rate calculations correctly.

Source: ASVAB AR, Rate (Miles per Gallon)

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About this topic: Basic Operations and Word Problems

Basic operations word problems are the core of Arithmetic Reasoning: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division dressed up as money, distance, time or quantity problems. The skill tested is setting the problem up correctly, not the arithmetic itself. This is one of 11 Arithmetic Reasoning questions on basic operations and word problems, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

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A car travels 165 miles using 5.5 gallons of gas. What is the car's fuel efficiency in miles per gallon?

Why this is the answer

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About this topic: Basic Operations and Word Problems

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