Math on the spot Ricardo and Brandon ran a 1.500 -meter 3.65 minut Ricardo finished in 3.61 minutes. Brandon finished in 3.6 , 12 - Lesson 4 What was the time of the runner who finished last?

We are told that in a 1,500‐meter race the two competitors’ times were very close. In fact, one statement tells us:  • Ricardo finished in 3.61 minutes.  • Brandon’s time was 0.12 seconds slower than Ricardo’s.   To answer “What was the time of the runner who finished last?” we note that since Brandon’s time is slower (by 0.12 seconds) than Ricardo’s, Brandon is the one who finished last. (Keep in mind that a “slower” time means a larger number when measured in minutes.) Step 1. Convert 0.12 seconds into minutes. Since 1 minute = 60 seconds:  0.12 sec = 0.12⁄60 = 0.002 minutes Step 2. Add this difference to Ricardo’s time to obtain Brandon’s time. Ricardo’s time = 3.61 minutes. Thus, Brandon’s time = 3.61 + 0.002 = 3.612 minutes. Step 3. (Optional) Express 3.612 minutes in minutes and seconds. • The whole part is 3 minutes. • The fractional part is 0.612 minutes. To convert to seconds, multiply by 60:  0.612 × 60 = 36.72 seconds. So Brandon’s time is roughly 3 minutes and 36.72 seconds. Therefore, the runner who finished last (Brandon) took 3.612 minutes (about 3 minutes and 36.72 seconds).