1. Garden snails can move as slowly as 0.1 inch per second and as quickly as 0.5 inch per second. For a snail that is continuously moving, which of these × would be reasonable as to the amount of time it would take a snail to travel 20 inches?
Answer: C
A snail would take 90 seconds to travel 20 inches.
To determine the time it takes for a snail to travel 20 inches, we need to consider its speed range. Moving at its slowest speed of 0.1 inch per second, it would take 200 seconds, while at its fastest speed of 0.5 inch per second, it would take 40 seconds. Therefore, the average time for a continuously moving snail is reasonable to consider at 90 seconds.
A) 2 seconds
This option is incorrect as it suggests an unrealistically fast speed of 10 inches per second, which is far beyond the maximum speed of a garden snail, which is only 0.5 inch per second.
B) 10 seconds
This option also presents an unrealistic scenario, implying a speed of 2 inches per second. Given that the fastest a snail can travel is 0.5 inch per second, this option is not feasible.
C) 90 seconds
This option is reasonable as it falls within the range of possible times for a snail to travel 20 inches. If we consider varying speeds, the average time of 90 seconds is plausible within the provided speed limits of 0.1 to 0.5 inch per second.
D) 400 seconds
This option is incorrect as it suggests a snail traveling at its slowest speed of 0.1 inch per second for 20 inches, which would actually take 200 seconds. Thus, 400 seconds significantly overestimates the time required.
Conclusion
The correct answer of 90 seconds is a reasonable approximation for the time it would take a snail to travel 20 inches, taking into account its varying speeds. All other options either suggest impossible speeds or miscalculate the time based on the known limitations of snail movement.