The ASVAB Tutor Presents Answer to Question on Miles Per Gallon

Arithmetic Reasoning

Miles Per Gallon Question

Yesterday I presented a question on miles per gallon.

If a car gets 20 mpg and drives for 260 miles, and gas costs $3.50 per gallon, how much will the trip cost?

In working as an ASVAB tutor, I present the topics of miles per gallon in my ASVAB prep course.  In my book, The ASVAB Tutor’s Arithmetic Reasoning Study Guide, I include a review of 15 subtopics.  One of those topics is miles per gallon.  It is not solved as a proportion problem. This question has two steps.

The question provides 3 pieces of information

20 mpg

260 miles

$3.50 per gallon.

Two of these are numbers and one is a money value.

Divide number into number.

Then multiply by money.

260 divided by 20 = 13

Then multiply $3.50 by 13.

$3.50 x 13 = $45.50.

The trip will cost $45.50

Did you know how to solve this problem?