Question

If you add more support so the shelf can now hold 5 1/4 pound, how many books can the shelf hold now? Show your work

Answer 1

Question:

A book weights 3/8 of a pound and a shelf can support
`3(3)/(4)` pounds. If you add more support, so the shelf can now hold
`5(1)/(4)` pound, how many books can the shelf hold now? Show your work

Answer:

14 books

Explanation:

Given

`Book = (3)/(8)lb`

Required

Determine the number of books the shelf can now hold.

From the question, we understand that the shelf can initially hold
`3(3)/(4)` pounds.

However, with more supports; the shelf can now hold up to
`5(1)/(4)` pound

The number of books it can hold is calculated by dividing the amount of pound the shelf can now hold with the weight of 1 book.

`Books = 5(1)/(4) / (3)/(8)`

Convert mixed number to improper fraction

`Books = (21)/(4) / (3)/(8)`

Change the division symbol to multiplication

`Books = (21)/(4) * (8)/(3)`

`Books = 7 * 2`

`Books = 14`

This implies that the shelf can now hold 14 books