You have steamed 1587 miles at 11.2 knots, and have consumed one-half of your total fuel capacity of 2840 bbls. What is the maximum speed you can steam to complete the remaining 1951 miles?

Correct Answer: Option A — 10.1 knots

Fuel consumption varies as the cube of the speed (Fuel2 / Fuel1 = (Speed2 / Speed3)^3). With half fuel capacity (1428 bbls) remaining and distance proportional, solving the fuel-speed cubic relationship for the remaining distance yields a maximum economic speed of 10.1 knots.