Grade level: 5 – 6th grades

Skills: multiplication

Related environmental issues: Climate Change

While former President Obama set high fuel efficiency* target to reduce  greenhouse gas emissions from our vehicles, the Trump administration has been trying to loosen the target so that car makers don’t need to worry too much about the amount of greenhouse gas their vehicles emit. The Obama target was to make vehicles that run 54.5 miles per gallon on average by 2025.

2018 Prius C can run 45.5 miles per gallon on average

1. The Obama administration required vehicles that were made in 2016 to run 35.5 miles per gallon on average. Suppose you bought a black vehicle in 2016 that runs 35.5 miles per gallon and you will buy a red vehicle in 2025 that runs 54.5 miles per gallon in the future. Which car runs farther on one gallon of gasoline?
2. Both of your vehicles have a tank that can hold 15 gallons of gasoline. How many more or less miles does the red vehicle run than the black vehicle on 15 gallons of gasoline?

Note) Fuel efficiency is a measure of how many miles a vehicle can travel on a gallon of gasoline. Fuel efficient vehicles need less gasoline to go a given distance.