Morgan M.

asked • 01/03/15

Kitty's mass is 2 1/2 times that of fluffys. Their combined mass is 7.5 k. What is fluffys mass?

kittys mass is 2 1/2 times greater that fluffys. Their total mass is 7.5 kg. what is fluffys mass?

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Mary Ann F. answered • 01/03/15

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Fluffy's mass = F
Kitty's mass = 2.5 * F
 
2.5(F) + F = 7.5Kg
3.5(F) = 7.5Kg
F = 7.5/3.5 
F ~ = 2.14 Kg
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Bill P.

I note an inconsistency between the words that are bolded and much larger type than the smaller words that are not boldeed. In the first case, it states that Kitty's mass is 2.5 times that of Fluffy's (mass). The second statement saYS THAT kITTY'S mass is 2.5 times GREATER than Fluffy's. These two sentences do not mean the same thing, although many people make the interpretation (incorrectly) that they do mean the same. 2.5 times greater means the same thing as 3.5 times as much. For example,  suppose I weigh 250 pounds and my 8-year old son weighs 50 pounds. One could correctly state that my weight is 5 times the weight of my son. It is NOT true that my weight is 5 times greater than the weight of my son. Rather, my weight (250)  is 200 pounds more than my son's weight (50). 200 is 4 times 50, so my weight is 4 times greater than my son's weight OR it is 5 times as much as my son's weight, but it is NOT 5 times greater than my sons weight.
 
 
So, the answer given above is correct for the wording that is larger and bolder. For the case of Kitty's mass is 2.5 times greater than Fluffy's should translate to K = F + 2.5 F = 3.5 F (Kitty's mass is 3.5 times that of Fluffy, then the two masses combined would be 4.5 times Fuffy's mass or 4.5  F. Since this amout is equal to 7.5 kg, then Fluffy's mass in this case is only 5/3 kg (or the mixed fraction 1 2/3 kg) while Kitty's mass would be 35/6 or the mixed fraction 5 5/6 kg. 
 
The correct answer is based on which question is actually being answered.
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01/04/15

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