A Jelly Fish Travels 3/5 Mile In 1/6 Hour And A Walrus Travels 5/6 Mile In 3/10 Hour. Which Animal Is Faster?
Introduction
When it comes to speed, we often think of animals like cheetahs and eagles, but what about jellyfish and walruses? In this article, we'll delve into the world of mathematics to determine which of these two marine animals is faster. We'll use fractions to calculate their speeds and compare them to find out who's the champion.
The Problem
A jellyfish travels 3/5 mile in 1/6 hour, while a walrus travels 5/6 mile in 3/10 hour. To determine which animal is faster, we need to calculate their speeds in miles per hour.
Calculating Speed
To calculate speed, we use the formula: speed = distance / time. We'll apply this formula to both the jellyfish and the walrus.
Jellyfish Speed
The jellyfish travels 3/5 mile in 1/6 hour. To calculate its speed, we'll divide the distance by the time:
speed = (3/5) / (1/6)
To divide fractions, we multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second fraction:
speed = (3/5) ร (6/1)
Now, we'll multiply the numerators and denominators:
speed = (3 ร 6) / (5 ร 1)
speed = 18 / 5
To simplify the fraction, we'll divide both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 1:
speed = 18 / 5
The jellyfish's speed is 18/5 miles per hour.
Walrus Speed
The walrus travels 5/6 mile in 3/10 hour. To calculate its speed, we'll divide the distance by the time:
speed = (5/6) / (3/10)
To divide fractions, we multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second fraction:
speed = (5/6) ร (10/3)
Now, we'll multiply the numerators and denominators:
speed = (5 ร 10) / (6 ร 3)
speed = 50 / 18
To simplify the fraction, we'll divide both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 2:
speed = (50 รท 2) / (18 รท 2)
speed = 25 / 9
The walrus's speed is 25/9 miles per hour.
Comparing Speeds
Now that we have the speeds of both the jellyfish and the walrus, we can compare them to determine which animal is faster.
Converting Fractions to Decimals
To compare the speeds, it's easier to convert the fractions to decimals. We'll use a calculator to convert the fractions to decimals:
Jellyfish speed: 18/5 = 3.6 miles per hour
Walrus speed: 25/9 = 2.78 miles per hour
Comparing Decimals
Now that we have the decimals, we can compare the speeds:
3.6 miles per hour (jellyfish) > 2.78 miles per hour (walrus)
The jellyfish is faster than the walrus.
Conclusion
In this article, we used fractions to calculate the speeds of a jellyfish and a walrus. We then compared their speeds to determine which animal is faster. The jellyfish's speed of 3.6 miles per hour is greater than the walrus's speed of 2.78 miles per hour, making the jellyfish the faster animal.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: How did you calculate the speed of the jellyfish? A: We used the formula speed = distance / time and divided the distance by the time.
- Q: How did you calculate the speed of the walrus? A: We used the same formula and divided the distance by the time.
- Q: Why did you convert the fractions to decimals? A: It's easier to compare decimals than fractions.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the jellyfish is faster than the walrus. This article demonstrates the importance of mathematics in real-life situations, such as comparing the speeds of animals. By using fractions and decimals, we can calculate and compare speeds to determine which animal is faster.
References
- [1] Khan Academy. (n.d.). Fractions. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/math/fractions
- [2] Mathway. (n.d.). Fractions. Retrieved from https://www.mathway.com/subjects/fractions
Related Articles
- [1] How to Calculate Speed
- [2] Fractions: A Beginner's Guide
- [3] Math in Real Life: A Guide to Everyday Applications
Introduction
In our previous article, we explored the world of mathematics to determine which of two marine animals, a jellyfish and a walrus, is faster. We calculated their speeds using fractions and decimals, and concluded that the jellyfish is the faster animal. In this article, we'll answer some frequently asked questions about the topic.
Q&A
Q: How did you calculate the speed of the jellyfish?
A: We used the formula speed = distance / time and divided the distance by the time. Specifically, we divided 3/5 mile by 1/6 hour.
Q: How did you calculate the speed of the walrus?
A: We used the same formula and divided the distance by the time. Specifically, we divided 5/6 mile by 3/10 hour.
Q: Why did you convert the fractions to decimals?
A: It's easier to compare decimals than fractions. By converting the fractions to decimals, we could easily compare the speeds of the jellyfish and the walrus.
Q: Can you explain the concept of speed in more detail?
A: Speed is a measure of how fast an object is moving. It's typically measured in units of distance per unit of time, such as miles per hour or kilometers per hour.
Q: How do you calculate speed in real-life situations?
A: To calculate speed, you need to know the distance traveled and the time it took to travel that distance. You can then use the formula speed = distance / time to calculate the speed.
Q: What are some real-life applications of speed calculations?
A: Speed calculations are used in a variety of real-life situations, such as:
- Calculating the speed of a car or other vehicle
- Determining the speed of a sports team or athlete
- Calculating the speed of a boat or other watercraft
- Determining the speed of a plane or other aircraft
Q: Can you explain the concept of fractions in more detail?
A: Fractions are a way of expressing a part of a whole. They consist of a numerator (the top number) and a denominator (the bottom number). For example, the fraction 3/5 represents 3 parts out of a total of 5 parts.
Q: How do you add and subtract fractions?
A: To add or subtract fractions, you need to have the same denominator. You can then add or subtract the numerators and keep the same denominator.
Q: Can you explain the concept of decimals in more detail?
A: Decimals are a way of expressing a fraction as a decimal number. For example, the fraction 3/5 can be expressed as the decimal 0.6.
Q: How do you convert fractions to decimals?
A: To convert a fraction to a decimal, you can divide the numerator by the denominator. For example, the fraction 3/5 can be converted to the decimal 0.6 by dividing 3 by 5.
Q: Can you explain the concept of greatest common divisor (GCD) in more detail?
A: The greatest common divisor (GCD) of two numbers is the largest number that divides both numbers without leaving a remainder. For example, the GCD of 18 and 5 is 1.
Q: How do you simplify fractions?
A: To simplify a fraction, you can divide both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD).
Conclusion
In this article, we've answered some frequently asked questions about the topic of a jellyfish and a walrus: a tale of speed and mathematics. We've explained the concepts of speed, fractions, decimals, and greatest common divisor, and provided examples of how to calculate speed and simplify fractions.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the jellyfish is faster than the walrus. This article demonstrates the importance of mathematics in real-life situations, such as comparing the speeds of animals. By using fractions and decimals, we can calculate and compare speeds to determine which animal is faster.
References
- [1] Khan Academy. (n.d.). Fractions. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/math/fractions
- [2] Mathway. (n.d.). Fractions. Retrieved from https://www.mathway.com/subjects/fractions
- [3] Wikipedia. (n.d.). Speed. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed
Related Articles
- [1] How to Calculate Speed
- [2] Fractions: A Beginner's Guide
- [3] Math in Real Life: A Guide to Everyday Applications