Grandma used 4 cups of sugar to make 50 brownies. How many cups of sugar are needed to make 110 brownies?

Answer 1

Hello Tabytha,

This problem can be solved by using a proportional equation where you place the same terms on the numerator and denominator on both sides of the equal sign.

For example, let's say I want to determine the following: It takes me 2 cups of flour to make 48 pancakes. How many cups of flour are needed to make 18 pancakes. In this example, there are three givens - like your problem - and one unknown which is the number of cups of flour needed to make the 18 pancakes. This information creates an equation as follows:

2 = x

---- -----

48 10

Notice the cups of flour - including the unknown amount needed to make 10 pancakes are both on the numerator on both sides of the equation, and the number of pancakes in both situations - one using 2 cups of flour which yields 48 pancakes and the other being 10. Since we do not know the number of cups needed to make 10 pancakes, you can see we assign the value of x. Now you are able to cross multiply and solve like any other equation. Do you have it now?

Okay! So, let's do your problem.

4 x

---- = ------

50 110

Now, let's cross multiply.

50x = 440 <-------Now divide both sides of your equation by 50 to obtain your answer.

x = 8.8 cups of flour are needed to make 110 brownies. This converts to 8 8/10 or 8 4/5 cups of flour Grandma will need to use per her recipe to make 110 brownies.

I hope this helps and that you have an enjoyable rest of the week. If you have feedback, need further clarity, or have questions, please click the "Add Comment" prompt and the information will post beneath this solution. Should you need one on one tutoring please feel free to reach out to me or any tutor. Best!