A car travels 240 miles using 8 gallons of fuel. If fuel efficiency decreases by 10% on a longer trip, how many gallons are needed to travel 360 miles? - Abbey Badges
Title: How Fuel Efficiency Impacts Long-Distance Driving: Solving the 360-Mile Trip Problem
Title: How Fuel Efficiency Impacts Long-Distance Driving: Solving the 360-Mile Trip Problem
When planning a road trip, one of the most essential factors to consider is fuel efficiency. Suppose a car travels 240 miles using 8 gallons of fuel—this gives us a baseline fuel efficiency of 30 miles per gallon (mpg). However, fuel efficiency often decreases under challenging conditions like long-distance travel, traffic, or longer routes. In this article, we’ll analyze how a 10% drop in efficiency affects fuel consumption for a 360-mile journey, helping you estimate exactly how many gallons you’ll need.
Step 1: Calculate the Original Fuel Efficiency
Understanding the Context
First, we determine the car’s baseline fuel economy:
Distance = 240 miles
Fuel used = 8 gallons
Fuel efficiency (mpg) = 240 ÷ 8 = 30 miles per gallon
Step 2: Account for Fuel Efficiency Loss
On the longer trip, fuel efficiency drops by 10%. To calculate the new efficiency:
10% of 30 mpg = 0.10 × 30 = 3 mpg
New fuel efficiency = 30 – 3 = 27 mpg
Step 3: Calculate Gallons Needed for 360 Miles
Key Insights
Now, we determine how many gallons are needed to travel 360 miles at the reduced efficiency:
Gallons required = Distance ÷ Fuel efficiency = 360 ÷ 27 = 13.33 gallons
Final Answer:
To complete a 360-mile trip with a 10% decrease in fuel efficiency, the car will need approximately 13.33 gallons of fuel.
Planning ahead for real-world fuel efficiency helps avoid unexpected fuel shortages and ensures smoother, stress-free travel. Whether you're hitting the open road for 240 miles or doubling the distance to 360 miles, understanding how efficiency impacts fuel use empowers smarter travel decisions.
Keywords: fuel efficiency, how much fuel for 360 miles, 30 mpg to 27 mpg, fuel consumption calculation, road trip fuel estimates, 10% efficiency loss, gas usage calculation, mpg for long-distance driving.
