car gets 12 miles per gallon uphill and 24 miles per gallon downhill. If the car goes to the top of Pikes Peak and back (48 miles uphill followed by 48 miles downhill), what is the car's gas mileage, in miles per gallon, for the entire trip?

The car's gas mileage, in miles per gallon, for the entire trip is 16.

Explanation:

Car gets 12 miles per gallon uphill and 24 miles per gallon downhill.

Uphill mileage = 12 miles per gallon

Downhill mileage = 24 miles per gallon

Distance to peak = 48 miles.

Distance to peak = Uphill mileage x Gas used uphill

48 = 12 x Gas used uphill

Gas used uphill = 4 gallon

Distance to peak = Downhill mileage x Gas used downhill

48 = 24 x Gas used downhill

Gas used downhill = 2 gallon

Total distance traveled by car = 48 + 48 = 96 miles

Total gas used = 4 + 2 = 6 gallons

Total distance = Mileage x Gas used

96 = Mileage x 6

Mileage = 16 miles per gallon

The car's gas mileage, in miles per gallon, for the entire trip is 16.