?Instructions: A mix for 88 servings of instant potatoes requires 2 and two thirds2

Question

?Instructions:  A mix for 88
servings of instant potatoes requires 2 and two thirds 2 2/3
cups of water.
 
Use this information to decide how much water is needed if you want to make 5
servings.

Answer 1

Hi,

 

I'm going to assume that there is a typo in the question and that it should be 2 2/3 cups of water required for 8 servings, not for 88 servings.

 

The first step is to determine the amount of water needed for 1 serving.  To calculate this, we divide the amount needed for 8 servings by 8:

(2 2/3) / 8

We can simplify the fraction to 8/3 (1 = 3/3, 2 = 6/3, 6/3+2/3 = 8/3)

Now we divide this by 8 : (8/3)/8

When dividing a fraction by  whole number, we only need to divide the numerator. The denominator stays the same, so (8/3) / 8 = 1/3 

 

SO now we know that 1 serving of mashed potatoes requires 1/3 cup of water.

 

To determine the amount needed for 5 servings, we multiply the amount of water needed for one serving times 5.

(1/3)x5 = 5/3 = 1 2/3

So we need 1 2/3 cups of water to make 5 servings of mashed potatoes.