Question

What data would you need to estimate the money you would spend on gasoline to drive your car from New York to Chicago? Provide estimates of values and a sample calculation.

Short answer

To estimate the money spent on gasoline to drive from New York to Chicago, you need the distance between the cities, fuel efficiency of the car, and the price of gasoline per gallon. Using an example distance of 790 miles, fuel efficiency of 25 MPG, and an average price of $3.00 per gallon: 1. Calculate the gallons needed: \(Gallons~needed = \frac{Distance}{Fuel~efficiency} = \frac{790~miles}{25~MPG} = 31.6~gallons\) 2. Estimate the total cost of gasoline: \(Total~cost~of~gasoline = Gallons~needed \times Price~per~gallon = 31.6~gallons \times 3.00 = 94.80\) The estimated cost of gasoline for the trip is approximately $94.80.

Step-by-step solution

Find the distance between New York and Chicago

Use a map, GPS, or online mapping service to find the approximate driving distance between New York and Chicago. For this example, we will use the value of 790 miles as the distance between the two cities.

Determine the fuel efficiency of your car

Check the owner's manual, the car's dashboard, or online resources to determine the fuel efficiency of your car in miles per gallon (MPG). For this example, we will use a car with a fuel efficiency of 25 MPG.

Find the average price of gasoline per gallon

Research the current average price of gasoline per gallon in the United States or the specific regions you plan to drive through on the trip. Gas prices can vary widely between states, so it's important to consider a reasonable average price for the entire trip. For this example, we will use an average price of $3.00 per gallon.

Calculate the number of gallons of gasoline needed for the trip

Divide the total distance of the trip by the fuel efficiency of your car to find out how many gallons of gasoline you will need for the entire trip. In this case: Gallons needed = Distance / Fuel efficiency = 790 miles / 25 MPG = 31.6 gallons

Estimate the total cost of gasoline for the trip

Multiply the total gallons of gasoline needed by the average price of gasoline per gallon to estimate the total cost of gasoline for the trip. In this case: Total cost of gasoline = Gallons needed x Price per gallon = 31.6 gallons x \(3.00/gallon = \)94.80 In this example, the estimated cost of gasoline for the trip from New York to Chicago is approximately $94.80. Keep in mind that this is only an estimate, as actual gas prices and driving conditions can vary.