Fermi question · Everyday
At 15 breaths per minute, about how many breaths does a resting adult take in 24 hours?
Make a fast, defensible estimate before you reveal the reference answer. Think in factors, not exact recall.
What is your estimate?
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Reference answer
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≈ 21.6 thousand breaths per day
Fermi estimates are judged by scale, so a reasonable approximation can still earn a strong score.
One way to estimate it
Multiply a representative resting breathing rate by the minutes in a day.
- Minutes per day≈ 1,440
- Breathing rate15 breaths/minute
- Estimate1,440 × 15 = 21,600 breaths/day
Keep practicing
Try another question, or return to the daily challenge to build your personal sense of scale.