I need an answer for my 5th grade homework

Question

To make a package that weighs 1 and a half pounds,Noah can put 2 tomatoes that weigh 3/4 pound each with 4 tomatoes  that weighs 3/8 pound each. There will be 2 tomatoes left with a total weight of how many pounds.

Answer 1

I think you probably mean that 2 tomatoes weigh 3/4 pounds together and 4 tomatoes weigh 3/8 pounds together. Otherwise, you already have 3 pounds of tomatoes!

 

So, that means you currently have a total of:

 

3/4 + 3/8 = 6/8 + 3/8 = 9/8 pounds of tomatoes

 

 

Since the package needs to be 1 and 1/2 pounds, you need to figure out how many pounds are left after you subtract the 9/8 pounds you already have. First, convert 1 and 1/2 to improper fraction form (1 and 1/2 = 3/2), then subtract:

 

3/2 - 9/8 = 12/8 - 9/8 = 3/8 pounds of tomatoes

 

 

That means the last 2 tomatoes need to weigh a total of 3/8 pounds.

 

 

Let's check our work by adding the tomato weights together:

 

3/4 + 3/8 + 3/8 = 6/8 + 3/8 + 3/8 = 12/8 = 3/2 = 1 and 1/2 pounds

 

That checks out!