Solve the following automotive-services problem

Question

blazingblitz · Answer

In first gear, or low gear, an automobile's engine runs about three times as fast as the drive shaft. In second gear, the engine does not have to run as fast; usually it runs about 1.6 times faster than the drive shaft. Finally, in third, or high gear, the engine runs at the same speed as the drive shaft.

Engine speed = 3,500 r.p.m.
Transmission in first gear

Drive-shaft speed (to nearest r.p.m.) =.

A: 1,167
B: 2,188
C: 5,600
D:10,500

mathstudent55 · Answer

Your problem states:
"In first gear, or low gear, an automobile's engine runs about three times as fast as the drive shaft."
Engine speed = 3,500 r.p.m. 
Transmission in first gear

In first gear the engine speed is 3 times the drive shaft speed . That means that in first gear, the drive shaft speed is 1/3 the speed of the engine.

If the engine speed is 3500 rpm, what is the drive-shaft speed?

mathstudent55 · Answer

I think it's interesting to see a problem in which high gear is third gear. This must be a very old problem. Transmissions now have up to 9 gears.