Math Proportions

Question

Jennifer is a caterer. She has a recipe for cake that calls for a 1/2 cup of butter and 1/3 cup of flour. This cake is only meant to feed a small family. She wants to make enough cake to increase the serving size by 3 times. How much butter and flour does she need?

Answer 1

3 times 1/2 cup of butter.

1/2 + 1/2 +1/2 = 3/2 or 3 x 1/2 = 1 and 1/2 cups

(decompose 3/2 ) 2/2 = 1 cup + 1/2 = 1 and 1 1/2 cups of butter

3 times 1/3 cup of flour.

1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 = 3/3 =1 or 3 X 1/3 = 3/3 =1

1 cup of flour

1 and 1/2 cups of butter and 1 cup of flour.