David W. answered • 11/24/15
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There are a total of 12 bowls.
The word "of" in word (story) problems usually means multiply.
(1/2) of 12 have corn
(1/2)*12 = 6 have corn
(1/4) of 12 have cranberries
(1/4)*12 = 3 have cranberries
(6/8) of 12 have potatoes
(6/8)*12 = 9 have potatoes [note: 6/8 = 3/4]
David W.
I wrote, "There are a total of 12 bowls." Yes, that means there are 12 bowls in total.
That also means that some bowls must have more than one item in them. With the wording of this problem, the "1/2" and the "1/4" and the "6/8" OF WHAT is not clear. There is no indication that a mysterious x=8 is part of the problem. I took it to mean "OF 12."
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11/24/15
David W.
The specific difficulty is that (1/2)+(1/4)+(6/8) = 1 1/2 OF WHAT? You made it "1 1/2 of 8" to get 12, but there is no 8 in the problem; the problem does not say OF WHAT. I took it to mean "1 1/2 of 12" because the problem did say "12 bowls," but that means more than one item in some bowls.
How would you solve this problem: "12 students, 1/2 take science, 1/4 take English, 6/8 take algebra. How many take each subject?"
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11/24/15
Michael J.
The same way I solved the posted question.
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11/25/15
David W.
You solved the problem like, "1/2 OF 8 STUDENTS take science, 1/4 OF 8 STUDENTS take English, and 6/8 OF 8 STUDETNS take algebra. How many take each subject?" The way you would solve it, the answers 4+2+6=12. The way I solved it, SOME OF THE 12 STUDENTS take more than one of these subjects.
Kendally, any time there is a fractional part, be sure to ask "OF WHAT?" (I'd say that this is true for more than half ...).
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11/25/15
Michael J.
11/24/15