A 20-ounce candle is expected to burn for 60 hours. A 12-ounce candle is expected to burn for 36 hours. Assuming the variables are directly related, how many hours would a 9-ounce candle be expected to burn?

For a direct relationship, the number of burning hours per ounce stays constant. Both candles burn for 3 hours per ounce (60 ÷ 20 = 3 and 36 ÷ 12 = 3), so a 9-ounce candle is expected to burn for 9 × 3 = 27 hours. The correct choice is 27.

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