A glass can hold 3 1/3 cups of water. A bowl can hold 2 3/5 times the amount in the glass. How many cups can a bowl hold?

Question

Im just unsure of how to solve this exact problem. 

Answer 1

Multiply 2 3/5 by 3 1/3.  But before we do that, we need to convert to improper fraction.

 

To convert the improper fraction, multiply the whole number by the denominator.  This will be the numerator of the new fraction.  Keep the denominator.

 

2 3/5 = 13 / 5

 

3 1/3 = 10 / 3

 

 

Now we can multiply.

 

(13 / 5) * (10 / 3) = (13 * 2) / 3 = 26 / 3

 

 

Now we can convert to mixed number.  We do this by performing long division.  The quotient is the whole number, the remainder is the numerator of the fraction part, and the divisor is the denominator.

 

   

        8

   _____

3 | 26

     24

    ____

        2

 

The mixed number is 8 2/3.   The bowl can hold 8 2/3 cups of water.

 

 

Another way we can do this is to use a sum of fractions with a common denominator, with the sum being 26 / 3.

 

(15 / 3) + (9 / 3) + (2 / 3) =

 

5 + 3 + (2 / 3) =

 

8 + (2/3) =

 

8 2/3

 

 

 

Answer 2

Here's our problem:

3 1/3 * 2 3/5

 

Let's convert to the mixed numbers:

(9/3 + 1/3) * (10/5 + 3/5)

10/3 * 13/5

 

Cross cancel (the 10 numerator and 5 denominator simplify down):

2/3 * 13/1 = 26/3, or 8 ²/₃