Question

Sheila has 12 1/2 pounds of potato salad. She wants to divide the potato salad into containers, each of which holds 2 1/4 pounds. How many containers does she need?

Answer 1

6 containers needed

Explanation:

Given

`Total = 12(1)/(2)\ lb` ----- Size

`Container = 2(1)/(4)\ lb` ----- Size

Required

Determine the number of containers needed

This question illustrates the knowledge of fraction and division.

To get the number of containers needed, we simply divide the total size by the size of the container as follows;

`Number = Total/Container`

`Number = 12(1)/(2)/2(1)/(4)`

Convert to improper fractions

`Number = (25)/(2)/(9)/(4)`

`Number = (25)/(2)*(4)/(9)`

`Number = (100)/(18)`

`Number = 5.5555556`

`Number = 6` --- Approximated