WorkSHEET 7.

1 Rates of change Name: ____________________________

1 Find the cost of each of the following.

(a) 300 newspapers at 80 cents each (a) 300 newspapers at 80 cents each
= 300 × 0.8
= $240
(b) 110 kg of steak at $8.50/kg (b) 110 kg of steak at $8.50/kg
= 110 × 8.50
= $935
(c) 59.25 hours work at $16/hour (c) 59.25 hours work at $16/hour
= 59.25 × 16
= $948

2 Express the following as the rate indicated in

the brackets.
(a) 350 kilometres using 80 litres of fuel (a) 350 kilometres using 80 litres of fuel
(km/L) = 350 ÷ 80
= 4.375 km/L
(b) 500 concert tickets costing $6000 (b) 500 concert tickets costing $6000
($/ticket) = 6000 ÷ 500
= $12/ticket
(c) 20 000 cans consumed by 500 people (c) 20 000 cans consumed by 500 people
(cans/person) = 20 000 ÷ 500
= 40 cans/person

3 At a jamboree, cordial is consumed at a rate of Litres/hour ÷ litres/container = containers/hour

200 litres per hour. At what rate Rate of filling = 200 ÷ 80
(containers/hour) will an 80-litre container need = 2.5 containers/hour
to be replenished to keep up with demand?

4 A car travelling from Melbourne to Sydney

averages 60 km/h for the first 120 km, averages
100 km/h for the next 400 km and completes
the last 300 km at an average of 75 km/h.
(a) How far is the journey?
(b) How long do each of the 3 stages take?
(c) What is the total time for the journey?
(d) What is the overall average speed?
(a) Distance = 120 + 400 + 300 = 820 km
(b) Stage 1: Time = 120 ÷ 60 = 2 hours
Stage 2: Time = 400 ÷ 100 = 4 hours
Stage 3: Time = 300 ÷ 75 = 4 hours
(c) Total time = 2 + 4 + 4 = 10 hours
(d) Average speed = 820 km ÷ 10 hours
= 82 km/h

Maths Quest 11 Mathematical Methods 2nd Ed. Page 1 of 3

5 A bath with a capacity of 800 litres is being
filled at a rate given by V = 50t, where t is
measured in minutes.
(a) How much water is in the bath after (a) V = 50t
3 minutes? = 50 × 3
= 150 litres

(b) How long will it take to fill the bath? (b) V = 50t
800 = 50t
800
t=
50
= 16 minutes

6 A grape picker gets paid $3 per crate. In the

first 3 hours she fills 18 crates and in the next 5
hours she fills 20 crates.
(a) How much does she earn in the first (a) $3/crate × 18 crates = $54
3 hours?
(b) How much does she earn for the day? (b) $3/crate × (18 + 20) crates = $3 × 38
= $114
(c) What is the average hourly rate of pay for (c) No. of hours worked = 3 + 5
the day? = 8 hours
Hourly rate of pay = $114 ÷ 8
= $14.25

7 The cost to hire a taxi can be represented by the

equation C = 2.5 + 1.1d, where C is cost in
dollars and d is distance in kilometres.
(a) How much will a journey of 38 km cost?
(a) C = 2.5 + 1.1d
C = 2.5 + 1.1 × 38
(b) How far could you travel for $10? = $44.30
(b) C = 2.5 + 1.1d
10 = 2.5 + 1.1d
10 − 2.5
d=
1 .1
≈ 6.8 km

8 Which of the following represent constant

rates?
(a) Nine cement mixers delivering concrete
in the first 3 hours followed by 6 cement
mixers delivering concrete in the next 2
hours.
(b) Five kg of mince added to 12 kg of
spaghetti followed by a further 3 kg of
mince added to a further 7 kg of
spaghetti.
(a) 9 cement mixers/3 hours = 3/h
6 cement mixers/2 hours = 3/h
This represents a constant rate.
(b) 5 kg mince/12 kg spaghetti = 1/2.4
3 kg mince/7 kg spaghetti = 1/2.3
Therefore this is not a constant rate.

Maths Quest 11 Mathematical Methods 2nd Ed. Page 2 of 3

9 A rally-cross driver passes through two Checkpoint A:
checkpoints A and B. Checkpoint A is 150 km Average speed = 150 ÷ (70 ÷ 60)
from the start and is passed after 70 minutes. ≈ 128.6 km/h
Checkpoint B is 375 km from the start and is Checkpoint B:
passed after 2 hours and 55 minutes. Has the Average Speed = 375 ÷ (175 ÷ 60)
driver maintained a constant rate? ≈ 128.6 km/h
The driver has completed both sections at a
constant speed.

10 A second rally-cross driver passes checkpoint A

(in the previous question) in 75 minutes.
(a) If the present rate is maintained, how
long will this driver be behind the
previous driver at checkpoint B?
(b) What will the rate need to be increased to
between checkpoints A and B if this
driver is to catch the previous driver?
(a) Checkpoint A:
Average speed = 150 ÷ (75 ÷ 60)
= 120 km/h
Time to reach Checkpoint B
= 375 ÷ 120
= 3.125
= 3 hrs 7.5 mins
This driver is 12.5 minutes behind the
other driver.
(b) To catch the previous driver, this driver
must do the 225 km (375 − 150) between
A and B in 100 (175−75) minutes.
Average speed in this section will need
to be 225 ÷ (100 ÷ 60) = 135 km/h.

Maths Quest 11 Mathematical Methods 2nd Ed. Page 3 of 3