How many pieces of sod will Jim's need to buy to cover his backyard with sod?

Question

Jim's backyard is a rectangle that is 15 5/6 yards long and 10 2/5 yards wide. Jim's buys sod in pieces that are 1 1/3 yards long and 1 1/3 yards wide.

Answer 1

((15 and 5/6) * (10 and 2/5)) divided by ( (1 and 1/3) * (1 and 1/3)) = 92 and 5/8

 

95      52                       4          4

--- * -----    divided by ------ * ------ =

 6       5                         3         3

 

 19       26                       16

----  * ----- divided by   ---------   <--- 95 cancels 5 by a factor of 19; the greatest common factor of 52 and 6 is 2

  3         1                        9

 

 

19   *    26 *    9

--------------------   <----   Remember when dividing fractions, KFC: keep , flip , change

      3  * 16

 

19 * 13 * 3

------------- <--- 9 cancels the 3; the greatest common factor of 26 and 8 is 2

         8

 

741/8 = 92 and 5/8

 

ninety two and five eigths