word problem

Question

14 jars, each with a capacity of 2.5 lb, are needed to hold a certain amount of honey. How many jars with a capacity of 3.5 lb would be needed to hold the same amount of honey?

Answer 1

Okay, stay calm. We can do this together. Ready?

If you have 14 jars, then you are adding to your total honey supply: 2.5 + 2.5 + 2.5....

That would take too long! When you add over and over, it really means you are multiplying:

14 * 2.5 = 35

So you have a grand total of 35 lb of honey. But wait -- how many of those honking big jars do we need instead? Easy! Each time you fill one, you are subtracting:

35 - 3.5 -3.5 - 3.5 - 3.5...

You see where this is going, right? When you subtract over and over, it's really dividing:

35 lbs / 3.5 lb per jar = 10 jars

All done! Now, we just need to wash all of that honey off of our hands...