If a runner completes a marathon of 26.2 miles in 4 hours, what is their average pace in minutes per mile?

To determine the average pace of the runner in minutes per mile, you need to divide the total time taken to complete the marathon by the total distance covered.

The total distance of the marathon is 26.2 miles, and the total time taken is 4 hours. First, convert the time into minutes, since the average pace is desired in minutes per mile. There are 60 minutes in an hour, so:

4 hours × 60 minutes/hour = 240 minutes

Now, to find the average pace, divide the total time in minutes by the total distance in miles:

Average pace = Total time in minutes / Distance in miles

Average pace = 240 minutes / 26.2 miles ≈ 9.16 minutes per mile

This means the runner's average pace is approximately 9.16 minutes for each mile. Rounding this to the nearest whole number, we find that the average pace is close to 9 minutes per mile.

Thus, since the calculation shows an average pace of approximately 9 minutes, this aligns correctly with the choice that represents that pace.