Tyrone works for the Department of Transportation as a traffic flow specialist. This afternoon he is recording the number of cars that travel through a busy intersection during rush hour. During the first 21 minutes of recording, he has observed 480 cars passing through the intersection. If this rate continues, estimate the number of cars that will travel through the intersection during the 2-hour busy period.

Question

Mathematics

Nylah Meadows

10 September, 22:09

Tyrone works for the Department of Transportation as a traffic flow specialist. This afternoon he is recording the number of cars that travel through a busy intersection during rush hour. During the first 21 minutes of recording, he has observed 480 cars passing through the intersection. If this rate continues, estimate the number of cars that will travel through the intersection during the 2-hour busy period.

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Answers (1)

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Kaitlyn Walters · Answer 1

Answer: 2,743 cars.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hi, to answer this question we have to apply a proportion:

During the first 21 minutes of recording: 480 cars passing through the intersection.

So, the proportion is:

Minutes / number of cars = 21 / 480

For 2 hours (120 minutes, since 1 hour=60 min; 2x60 = 120 min)

120 minutes / x cars = 120/x

So:

21/480 = 120/x

Solving for x

x = 120 / (21/480)

x = 2,742.85 = 2,743 cars.