Question

The table below shows the number of miles four cars can travel on a given amount of gasoline.

Car Mileage

Number of miles traveled
Number of gallons used
Car 1
528
22
Car 2
486
18
Car 3
475
19
Car 4
546
21

Which list shows the cars in order from least miles per gallon to greatest miles per gallon?
car 3, car 2, car 1, car 4
car 2, car 3, car 4, car 1
car 1, car 3, car 4, car 2
car 2, car 4, car 3, car 1

Answer 1

To determine the order of the cars from least miles per gallon (mpg) to greatest mpg, we need to calculate the mileage for each car using the formula:

\[
\text{Miles per gallon (mpg)} = \frac{\text{Number of miles traveled}}{\text{Number of gallons used}}
\]

Let's calculate the mpg for each car:

- **Car 1**:
\[
\text{mpg} = \frac{528 \text{ miles}}{22 \text{ gallons}} = 24 \text{ mpg}
\]

- **Car 2**:
\[
\text{mpg} = \frac{486 \text{ miles}}{18 \text{ gallons}} = 27 \text{ mpg}
\]

- **Car 3**:
\[
\text{mpg} = \frac{475 \text{ miles}}{19 \text{ gallons}} = 25 \text{ mpg}
\]

- **Car 4**:
\[
\text{mpg} = \frac{546 \text{ miles}}{21 \text{ gallons}} = 26 \text{ mpg}
\]

Now, we can summarize the mileage for each car:

- **Car 1**: 24 mpg
- **Car 2**: 27 mpg
- **Car 3**: 25 mpg
- **Car 4**: 26 mpg

Next, we can order the cars based on their mpg from least to greatest:

1. Car 1: 24 mpg
2. Car 3: 25 mpg
3. Car 4: 26 mpg
4. Car 2: 27 mpg

Thus, the order from least miles per gallon to greatest miles per gallon is:

**Car 1, Car 3, Car 4, Car 2**

Therefore, the correct answer is:

**car 1, car 3, car 4, car 2**