How many gallons of gasoline does Ms. Smith require for her 700-mile trip if her car averages 35 miles per gallon?

• A. 18
• B. 20
• C. 22
• D. 25

Answer: (B)

To determine how many gallons of gasoline Ms. Smith will need for her 700-mile trip, we can use the car’s fuel efficiency. The car averages 35 miles per gallon, meaning that for every gallon of gasoline, it can travel 35 miles.

To find the total gallons needed, we need to divide the total distance of the trip by the car's miles per gallon. This can be set up mathematically as follows:

Total gallons required = Total distance / Miles per gallon

Total gallons required = 700 miles / 35 miles per gallon

When we perform the calculation:

700 ÷ 35 = 20 gallons

Thus, Ms. Smith will need 20 gallons of gasoline to complete her 700-mile trip. This calculation demonstrates how to effectively use the car's fuel efficiency to estimate fuel needs for a specific distance. By following this method, one can easily adapt the calculation for any travel distance and fuel efficiency.