What is the average number of heartbeats per second?

2/3 beat per second
3 beats per second
1 1/2 beats per second
2 beats per second

The average number of heartbeats per second is 1 1/2 beats per second.

To find the average number of heartbeats per second, you need to add up the given rates and divide by the total number of rates. Let's calculate:

Given rates:
2/3 beat per second
3 beats per second
1 1/2 beats per second
2 beats per second

To convert the mixed fraction (1 1/2) to an improper fraction, we multiply the whole number (1) by the denominator (2) and add the numerator (1), then place the result over the denominator (2):
1 × 2 + 1 = 2 + 1 = 3
So, 1 1/2 = 3/2 beats per second.

Adding up the rates:
2/3 + 3 + 3/2 + 2

To add fractions with different denominators, we need to find a common denominator. In this case, the common denominator is 6.

Converting each fraction to have a denominator of 6:
2/3 = (2/3) × (2/2) = 4/6
3/2 = (3/2) × (3/3) = 9/6

Now the rates become:
4/6 + 6/6 + 9/6 + 12/6

Adding the numerators and keeping the common denominator:
4 + 6 + 9 + 12 = 31

So, the sum of the rates is 31/6 beats per second.

Now, to find the average, divide the sum by the total number of rates, which is 4:
31/6 ÷ 4 = (31/6) ÷ 4 = 31/6 × 1/4 = 31/24

Therefore, the average number of heartbeats per second is 31/24 beats per second.

To find the average number of heartbeats per second, you need to calculate the total number of beats and divide it by the time taken.

Let's go through each option one by one:

1. 2/3 beat per second: To calculate the average, you would need to know the total number of beats over a specific time period. With only the rate given, it is not possible to determine the average without additional information.

2. 3 beats per second: Here, the average is already provided. The average number of heartbeats per second is simply 3.

3. 1 1/2 beats per second: Similar to the previous option, the average is given as 1 1/2 beats per second. Therefore, the average number of heartbeats per second is 1.5.

4. 2 beats per second: Just like the second option, the average is explicitly provided as 2. Hence, the average number of heartbeats per second is 2.

Please note that providing the average alone does not give any insight into the actual total number of heartbeats or the time period considered. If you have that information, you can use it to calculate the average.