Nancy is running on a trail that is 5.3 miles long. After 20 minutes, she has run 1.45 miles. Solve the equation to find the number of miles Nancy still has to run to reach the end of the trail.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To find out how many miles Nancy has left to run on the trail, we can start by establishing a simple equation. The total length of the trail is 5.3 miles, and we know that after 20 minutes, Nancy has already run 1.45 miles. The equation to determine the remaining distance can be expressed as follows:
[
\text{Remaining distance} = \text{Total distance} – \text{Distance run}
]
Substituting the known values into the equation gives us:
[
\text{Remaining distance} = 5.3 \text{ miles} – 1.45 \text{ miles}
]
Now, performing the subtraction:
- Convert the total distance and distance run into a common format if necessary. Here, both are in miles.
- Calculate:
[
5.3 – 1.45
]
To perform this calculation, it can be easier to convert 5.3 into a fraction with a common denominator, or simply subtract directly.
To perform the calculation:
- Align the numbers:
- (5.3) can be represented as (5.30) (adding a zero for clarity).
- Subtract:
[
5.30 – 1.45 = 3.85
]
Thus, the remaining distance Nancy has to run is:
[
\text{Remaining distance} = 3.85 \text{ miles}
]
Explanation
In this problem, we started with the total length of the trail and the distance Nancy had already covered. By using a simple subtraction equation, we were able to efficiently determine how much further she needs to run. Understanding this process is critical for solving similar real-world problems involving distance and time.
This type of calculation is common in various contexts, such as sports, travel planning, and fitness tracking, where knowing the remaining distance to a goal can help in pacing and planning. The concept of subtracting the distance already covered from the total distance is fundamental in these scenarios. By providing a clear equation and performing the arithmetic step-by-step, we arrived at the solution, which not only gives us the remaining distance but also reinforces basic mathematical operations and their applications in everyday life.