Final answer:
To run 3/4 of a mile on a 1/16 mile track, you need to complete 12 laps. This is calculated by dividing 3/4 of a mile by 1/16 of a mile, multiplying the former by the reciprocal of the latter.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calculating the Number of Laps Required
To find out how many laps it will take to run 3/4 of a mile on a track that measures 1/16 of a mile, you divide the total distance desired by the length of one lap. This is a simple division problem that applies the concept of unit fractions and the arithmetic operation of division to find the answer. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:
- Understand that each lap around the track is 1/16 of a mile.
- You want to complete 3/4 of a mile, so you set up the division 3/4 ÷ 1/16.
- To divide fractions, you multiply by the reciprocal of the divisor. The reciprocal of 1/16 is 16/1.
- Multiply 3/4 by 16/1 to find the number of laps.
- Performing the multiplication, 3/4 × 16/1 = 12/1, which simplifies to 12.
- Therefore, it will take 12 laps to run 3/4 of a mile around the track.
This example demonstrates the use of basic fraction division to solve real-world problems, such as calculating distance in sports training or races.