Erica prints a picture at home using computer software. The photo she prints has a length o

Question

1. Erica prints a picture at home using computer software. The photo she prints has a length of 10 inches and a width of 5 inches. Then Erica decides to print the picture smaller. The ratio of the new picture to that of the original is 1.5 to 2. What is the length and width of the new picture?

 

2. same problem but different numbers. 16 length to 14 width, 3.5 to 2 new to original. 

Answer 1

Let's see what we can do, LiLi. Hopefully it's not too late for you.  If we said that the ratio in problem 1 was 1 to 2, then the new photo would be half the size of the original, right?  So, it would be 5 inches by 2.5 inches, because 5/10 = 1/2 and 2.5/5 = 1/2, right?

 

So, we need to find numerators so that they reduce to 1.5/2.  If we put 10 on the bottom, what goes on top? 1.5/2 = x/10.  You can cross multiply and get that 2x = 15, so x = 7.5.  We need to do the same for the 5.

 

1.5/2 = x/5.  Cross multiply and get 2x = 7.5, so x = 3.75.

 

Our new smaller picture is 7.5 inches long and 3.75 inches wide.

 

Can you do the second problem now?