Solve the proportion:
You can find the distance from a thunderstorm by counting the number if seconds between the lighting flash and thunder. For example, if the time difference in 21 seconds, then the storm is 7 km away. How far away is the storm if the difference is 9 seconds?
Let's set up a proportion.
7/21 = x/9
Cross multiply and solve for x.
Thanks Ms. Sue
=3x
Yes, the storm is 3 km away.
To solve the proportion, we can first set up a ratio using the information given in the problem:
21 seconds : 7 km = 9 seconds : x km
Here, "x" represents the distance of the storm we are trying to find.
To solve for "x," we can use the property of proportions that says the product of the means is equal to the product of the extremes. In other words:
(21 seconds) * (x km) = (7 km) * (9 seconds)
Now, we can simplify the equation:
21x = 63
To isolate "x," we can divide both sides of the equation by 21:
x = 63 / 21
Simplifying further:
x = 3
Therefore, the storm is 3 km away when the time difference between the lightning flash and the thunder is 9 seconds.