A cat's pulse was measured at 120 beats per minute. How many beats did the veterinarian count during the 15 second measuring interval?

To find out how many beats were counted during a 15-second interval when a cat's pulse was measured at 120 beats per minute, you need to convert the pulse rate into a count for the shorter time frame.

First, recognize that there are 60 seconds in a minute. If the cat's pulse is 120 beats per minute, it means that in 60 seconds, the cat's heart beats 120 times. To calculate how many beats occur in just 15 seconds, divide the total beats per minute by the number of seconds in a minute, and then multiply by 15 seconds:

1. Calculate the beats per second: 120 beats per minute ÷ 60 seconds per minute = 2 beats per second.

2. Then, calculate for 15 seconds: 2 beats per second × 15 seconds = 30 beats.

This demonstrates that in a 15-second measuring interval, the veterinarian would count 30 beats, making this the correct response.