Maths hiding in travel: fuel stops
Estimate how many stops a long journey might need.
Quick answer
You can estimate how many fuel stops you’ll need for a long journey by dividing the total distance by your car’s average distance per tank.Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will be able to estimate how many fuel stops a long journey might need using division and multiplication. Success signs:- You can calculate how many stops you might need for a trip
- You can use division to split a distance into tank-sized parts
- You can explain how fuel stops help with long journeys
- You can check if your answer makes sense in real life
Why this matters
Maths helps us plan travel and make sure we don’t run out of fuel. When we go on long trips, we need to know how often to stop for fuel. This helps us save time, money, and avoid being stuck on the road. Whether you're going on a family holiday, helping your parent drive somewhere, or planning a bike ride, knowing how to estimate fuel stops is a useful skill.How it works
Let’s think about how to work out how many fuel stops you’ll need for a journey:- Find the total distance of your trip in kilometres or miles.
- Find how far your car can go on one full tank of fuel (this is called the range).
- Divide the total distance by the range to find how many tanks you’ll need.
- Subtract 1 to find how many stops you’ll need (because you start with a full tank).
Examples you can see
Let’s imagine you’re going on a road trip with your family. Here’s how to work out the fuel stops: Example 1: A short trip- Total distance: 120 km
- Car range: 40 km per tank
- Number of tanks needed: 120 ÷ 40 = 3 tanks
- Number of stops needed: 3 – 1 = 2 stops
- Total distance: 480 km
- Car range: 80 km per tank
- Number of tanks needed: 480 ÷ 80 = 6 tanks
- Number of stops needed: 6 – 1 = 5 stops
- Total distance: 720 km
- Car range: 90 km per tank
- Number of tanks needed: 720 ÷ 90 = 8 tanks
- Number of stops needed: 8 – 1 = 7 stops
Try it as a mini adventure
Adventure: The Road Trip Challenge You and your family are going on a road trip from your home to a national park that is 600 km away. Your car can go 100 km on one full tank of fuel. Let’s go through the steps together:- First, find the total distance: 600 km
- Next, find the car range: 100 km per tank
- Now, divide the distance by the range: 600 ÷ 100 = 6 tanks
- Finally, subtract 1 to find stops: 6 – 1 = 5 stops
- Total distance: 600 km
- Car range: 120 km per tank
- Tanks needed: 600 ÷ 120 = 5 tanks
- Stops needed: 5 – 1 = 4 stops
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Forgetting to subtract 1 from the number of tanks to find stops.
Why it happens: Children might think that if they need 6 tanks, they need 6 stops, but they start with one tank.
Fix: Remember: you start with a full tank, so you only need to stop for fuel after the first tank.
- Mistake: Not checking if the answer makes sense.
Why it happens: Sometimes children get a big number and don’t think if it’s realistic.
Fix: Ask yourself: “Does this number of stops feel right for the journey?”
- Mistake: Using the wrong unit (km vs miles).
Why it happens: Children may mix up units when working with distance.
Fix: Always use the same units for distance and range.
Parent and carer guide
As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:- Using a real journey to practice. Ask your child to estimate how many stops you might need for a trip.
- Letting your child use a calculator or draw a line to show the journey and stops.
- Reinforcing the idea that you start with a full tank, so the number of stops is always one less than the number of tanks.
- Encouraging your child to check their answer makes sense (e.g., a short trip shouldn’t need many stops).
- Practising with different car ranges and distances to build confidence.
Practice questions
- How many stops are needed for a 300 km trip if your car can go 60 km on one tank?
- How many stops are needed for a 500 km trip if your car can go 100 km on one tank?
- How many stops are needed for a 750 km trip if your car can go 150 km on one tank?
- How many stops are needed for a 420 km trip if your car can go 70 km on one tank?
- How many stops are needed for a 1000 km trip if your car can go 200 km on one tank?
- 300 ÷ 60 = 5 tanks, 5 – 1 = 4 stops
- 500 ÷ 100 = 5 tanks, 5 – 1 = 4 stops
- 750 ÷ 150 = 5 tanks, 5 – 1 = 4 stops
- 420 ÷ 70 = 6 tanks, 6 – 1 = 5 stops
- 1000 ÷ 200 = 5 tanks, 5 – 1 = 4 stops
FAQ
How do I know how far my car can go on one tank?
Check your car’s manual or ask a parent. You can also look at how many kilometres you’ve driven since the last fill-up and how much fuel you used.
What if I have a hybrid or electric car?
Hybrid and electric cars don’t use fuel in the same way. Instead, they use electricity or a mix of fuel and electricity. You can still estimate stops based on how far you can travel on one charge.
Do I need to stop at every fuel stop?
No, you don’t have to stop at every fuel stop. You can plan to stop when you’re running low, not exactly where the maths says. But the maths helps you plan ahead.
What if my car’s range changes?
Car range can change depending on weather, traffic, and how fast you drive. If you're planning a trip, it’s good to use a rough estimate and be ready to adjust.
Can I use this method for other trips?
Yes! You can use this same method for any long journey — whether it’s by car, bus, train, or even walking. Just make sure to use the right units and think about how often you need to refill or rest.