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CCSS: 6.RP.A.2, 7.RP.A.2.B

TEKS: 6:4H, 6.10A, 7.4A

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Play Ball!

May/June 2023
by Karina Hamalainen • Illustration by Tony Trimmer

It’s the Critter League’s Championship game. The Pittsburgh Primes are facing off against the Venice Variables. How fast is this play? Use rates of speed to find out!

Rates of Speed

Answer the following questions about a play during the game. Round answers to the nearest hundredth. Record your work and answers on our answer sheet.

The pitcher throws the ball at a speed of 105 feet per second. How many seconds does it take to reach home plate?

The batter hits the ball and runs at a rate of 19 feet per second. How many seconds later does he reach first base?

Player #17 picks up the ball and throws it back to the pitcher, who catches it 1.8 seconds later. What was the ball’s speed?

BONUS:
How many seconds in total did the ball travel during this entire play?

NEED A HAND?

Rate of speed is a ratio that compares distance and time. When you know a rate and distance or time, you can use the rate equation to find the unknown term.

Distance = Rate  Time

At a rate of 50 feet per second, how long does it take to travel 115 feet?

2.3 sec = t sec

So at that rate, it takes 2.3 seconds to travel 115 feet.

Ratios & Proportions
Rate
Skills Sheets (2)
Skills Sheets (2)
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