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Ch.1 - Matter, Measurement & Problem Solving
Chapter 1, Problem 132

The Honda Insight, a hybrid electric vehicle, has an EPA gas mileage rating of 41 mi/gal in the city. How many kilometers can the Insight travel on the amount of gasoline that would fit in a soda can? The volume of a soda can is 355 mL.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Unit Conversion

Unit conversion is the process of converting a quantity expressed in one set of units to another. In this question, it is essential to convert the volume of gasoline from milliliters (mL) to liters (L) and then to gallons, as the gas mileage is given in miles per gallon. Understanding how to perform these conversions accurately is crucial for solving the problem.
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Gas Mileage

Gas mileage refers to the distance a vehicle can travel per unit of fuel consumed, typically expressed in miles per gallon (mpg) or kilometers per liter (km/L). In this case, the Honda Insight's gas mileage of 41 mpg indicates how far it can travel on one gallon of gasoline. This concept is vital for determining the total distance the vehicle can cover based on the amount of fuel available.
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Volume of Fuel

The volume of fuel is the amount of liquid fuel available for consumption, which in this scenario is represented by the volume of a soda can (355 mL). To find out how far the Honda Insight can travel, one must first convert this volume into a compatible unit (gallons) and then apply the gas mileage to calculate the distance. Understanding the relationship between volume and distance traveled is key to solving the problem.
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