To find out how far the runner can go in 16 minutes, we need to calculate how many 1/4 distances can be completed in that time.
In 8 minutes, the runner completes 1/4 of a 5-mile race.
Therefore, the runner completes (1/4) * 5 = 5/4 miles in 8 minutes.
To find out how far the runner can go in 16 minutes, we can set up a proportion:
(5/4 miles) / (8 minutes) = x miles / 16 minutes
Cross-multiplying, we get:
8 * x = (5/4) * 16
Simplifying, we get:
8x = 80/4
8x = 20
x = 20 / 8
x = 2.5
Therefore, the runner can go 2.5 miles in 16 minutes.