What does as many as means?

Question

Hi!  May I know what does 3/4 as many oranges as apples means?  Does it mean oranges is a fraction of the amount of apples?  Thanks a lot.

Answer 1

As you build your "translation dictionary" so that you can replace words and phrases in story problems with math variables and symbols, you will have:

      of                            means                *

     equals                                                =

      is                                                      =

     sum                                                   +

    product                                                *

   . . .

   x is 3/4 as many as y                      x = (3/4)y

 

So, "3/4 as many oranges as apples"        means

      "number of oranges is 3/4 number of apples"

             oranges          =      (3/4)apples

Answer 2

You are correct.  If I have 3/4 as many oranges as apples, and I have 12 apples, then I have 9 oranges.