Maths Question

Question

A pile of newspapers in Mrs. McGarth's art class was 17 3/4 inches high. Each consective week, for the next 5 weeks, the height of the pile of newspapers increased by 8 7/12 inches. What was the height, in inches, of the pile after 3 weeks?

Answer 1

The gain in height is 3 times the 8 7/12 gain per week.

Can you multiply those two numbers?

I got 25 3/4 inch gain total, in those 3 weeks.**

 

Add this to the original height to get the requested answer.

 

** here's one way to do this multiplication: you can multiply the whole number part, 8, by 3 = 24.  Also multiply 3 times 7/12...you'll get 21/12 which is the mixed number 1 9/12 or 1 3/4, when reduced.  Then add the 24 + 1 3/4 = 25 3/4 inches added.Finally, you add the original height and this growth amount & you have the final answer.

 

This is worthy of study so that you'll feel capable the next time problems work with mixed numbers.