23. Jinghua hiked 4.5 miles through the woods in 2.25 hours. She hiked the return trip at the same average rate but by a different route, taking 2.5 hours. How many miles did Jinghua hike on the return trip?
Answer: B
Jinghua hiked 5 miles on the return trip.
To determine the distance Jinghua hiked on her return trip, we first find her average speed during the initial hike and then apply that speed to the time taken for the return trip.
A) 4.75
Option A is incorrect because it suggests a distance that is less than what Jinghua would cover at her average speed. Given her speed, she would not cover this distance in the time taken for the return trip.
B) 5
Option B is correct as it aligns with Jinghua's average speed of 2 miles per hour (4.5 miles / 2.25 hours). When she hiked for 2.5 hours on the return trip, the distance covered would be 5 miles (2 miles/hour * 2.5 hours).
C) 5.5
Option C is incorrect because it presents a distance that exceeds what Jinghua could have covered at her average speed. With the time constraint of 2.5 hours, this distance is not feasible based on her earlier performance.
D) 6
Option D is also incorrect as it implies a distance greater than what Jinghua could achieve within her average speed for the duration of her return trip. This option fails to consider the speed calculation from her previous hike.
Conclusion
The correct answer is B, as it reflects Jinghua's consistent average speed throughout her hikes. All other options misrepresent the distance based on the time taken and the average speed calculated from her initial hike. Thus, 5 miles is the only plausible distance for the return trip.