ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)Hard

A pilot determines that 3/8 of the mission's flight path covers enemy territory. If the total mission flight path is 1200 miles, and 1/4 of the enemy territory portion is heavily defended, how many miles of the flight path are heavily defended?

  1. A150 miles
  2. B112.5 miles
  3. C450 miles
  4. D225 miles
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B. 112.5 miles

First, find the length of the enemy territory portion: (3/8) * 1200 miles = 450 miles. Then, find 1/4 of this length to get the heavily defended portion: (1/4) * 450 miles = 112.5 miles.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Incorrect calculation, possibly 1/8 of total.
  • C. This is the total length of the enemy territory portion, not the heavily defended part.
  • D. Incorrect calculation, possibly 1/4 of the total mission.

Fractions of Fractions

Calculating a fractional part of an already established fractional portion of a whole.

  • Multiply the fractions together to find the combined fraction of the whole.
  • Alternatively, calculate the first fractional part, then the second fractional part of that result.
  • Order of operations is important for clarity.

Memory trick: Fraction Chain: Cut the whole, then cut the piece again.

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