NavGanitMateby NavGreen Compute, AustraliaBased on Australian Curriculum: Mathematics v9.0
← Back to practice

Proportion, rates and scale modelling

Wide tables scroll horizontally. For detailed working, you may prefer a larger screen.

Required skills (click to reveal)

A fire management team in Darwin is modelling the spread rate of a controlled burn. The spread rate is directly proportional to both wind speed (in km/h) and fuel load (in tonnes per hectare).

In a test scenario, when the wind speed is 66 km/h and the fuel load is 45 tonnes per hectare, the fire spreads at 1980 m per hour. What is the exact spread rate, in metres per hour, when the wind speed is 99 km/h and the fuel load is 60 tonnes per hectare?

Use direct proportion to determine the exact rate.

Concept illustrations

These are separate worked examples of related concepts, not a diagram of this question. Their values and dimensions do not describe your question.

A one-to-one-hundred length scale. At scale 1:100, a 3 cm drawing length represents 300 cm = 3 m. The two bars are symbolic and not shown at a 1:100 size ratio.Drawing: 3 cmReal: 300 cm = 3 m×100
At scale 1:100, a 3 cm drawing length represents 300 cm = 3 m. The two bars are symbolic and not shown at a 1:100 size ratio.
Two red counters for every three blue counters. Red:blue = 2:3. There are 5 counters in all, so the red fraction of the whole is 2/5.RedRedBlueBlueBlue2 red : 3 blue · 5 counters in all
Red:blue = 2:3. There are 5 counters in all, so the red fraction of the whole is 2/5.

Press Start when ready. Time includes time spent in another tab. Submit your answer before opening a help panel for a timed rank.

00:00
0 wordsOnly your numerical final answer or selected MCQ option is checked. Scratch working is not graded.

Report a problem or suggest an improvement

My notes — optional, not graded 0 words

Notes and scratch working stay in this browser and are linked to this question version. They are not graded or included in feedback. On shared devices, other people using this browser may see them.

For this question only. Your full notebook is on the dashboard.

Notes save in this browser. Download a copy to keep them elsewhere.

Report a problem or suggest an improvement

Your observations help improve this question. You can report an issue or recommend a better explanation, visual or experience.

0 words

The report includes your message and question/version details. Saved profile details, answers, notes and attempt history are not automatically attached. Leave out names and contact details, and check screenshots for personal information and embedded metadata.

Attachments may contain personal information. Review them before sharing. Logs collect only event codes and timestamps after you enable them. Download the ZIP to keep a copy, then attach it to an email if you choose.

Formula and explanation (click to reveal)

Opening this before your first submission makes the attempt practice only.

Formula

Explanation

Worked solution and answer (click to reveal)

Opening this before your first submission makes the attempt practice only.

Worked solution

  1. The spread rate is directly proportional to both wind speed (in km/h) and fuel load (in tonnes per hectare). This means the spread rate R can be expressed as R = k × v × f, where v is wind speed, f is fuel load, and k is the constant of proportionality.
  2. Given: v = 66 km/h, f = 45 tonnes/ha, R = 1980 m/h. Substitute these values into the formula to find k: 1980 = k × 66 × 45.
  3. Calculate the product of wind speed and fuel load: 66 × 45 = 2970.
  4. Solve for k: k = 1980 / 2970. Simplify the fraction by dividing numerator and denominator by 90: 1980 ÷ 90 = 22, 2970 ÷ 90 = 33. So k = 22/33 = 2/3.
  5. Now use k = 2/3 to find the new spread rate when v = 99 km/h and f = 60 tonnes/ha. Apply the formula: R = (2/3) × 99 × 60.
  6. First, compute 99 × 60 = 5940.
  7. Now compute (2/3) × 5940. Divide 5940 by 3: 5940 ÷ 3 = 1980. Then multiply by 2: 1980 × 2 = 3960.
  8. The spread rate is 3960 m per hour.
  9. Check: the wind speed increased from 66 to 99 km/h, a factor of 99/66 = 1.5. The fuel load increased from 45 to 60 tonnes/ha, a factor of 60/45 = 1.333... (4/3). The combined factor is 1.5 × 1.333... = 2. So the new rate should be 2 × 1980 = 3960 m/h. This matches.

Reference answer: 3960 m/h

Alternative methods (click to reveal)

Shortcuts are shown only when applicable. Check the conditions before using one.

Earlier attempts for this question

#Date / timeYour answerResultSecondsHelp revealedRank
History stays in this browser when storage is available. Export it to your shared Drive folder and import it on another computer.
Worksheet details

Naming pattern: Topic_Grade_Complexity_YYYYMMDD_HH24MISS.html

Validation compares your answer with the generated reference. The model's reference can be wrong. Time ranks use an estimated student solving time, not a measured benchmark or a comparison with other students. An incorrect answer receives no speed rank.

NavGanitMate privacy & saved work

Saved in this browser. Your profile preferences, answers, practice history and notes are stored here when browser storage is available. They are not automatically uploaded to our servers. People sharing this browser may see saved work; changing the learner name does not create a separate private account. A nickname is enough.

Keep copies of important work. Clearing browser data, private browsing or changing browser or device can mean losing saved work. Download notes and export history separately. Downloads are copies of the selected content, not a complete account backup; not every format can be imported to restore your work. Keep these files somewhere private.

Visiting the website. Cloudflare helps deliver and protect this site and processes connection information such as IP addresses and requested pages. Server error logs may also contain request details. Security features may use cookies. This is separate from your browser-saved learning records. Cloudflare privacy information.

A parent-connection reminder uses a local list of up to five completed question IDs for this browser profile and a tab-session dismissal marker. Reminder activity is not uploaded and practice remains available.

Sharing feedback is your choice. A report includes your message and question/version details. Your saved profile, answers and notes are not automatically attached. Files you select can reveal personal details or contain embedded metadata: check and redact them before sharing. Diagnostic event codes and timestamps are included only after you enable logging. Sending email shares your message and attachments with the recipient and email providers. A download alone sends nothing to us. Website feedback delivery may be unavailable; only a confirmed receipt indicates it was received.