Jocelyn made 3 3/5 pounds of homemade candy.she is planning on dividing the candy equally among 6 boxes.how much candy should she place in each box?

Question

I don't really understand it

Answer 1

Hi Desiy,

 

First lets translate our mixed fraction into a pure fraction. The total amount of candy we have is:

 

• 3 and 3/5 lbs
• 3 * [5/5] and 3/5 lbs
• 15/5 and 3/5 lbs
• 18/5 lbs

 

So the total amount of candy we have is 18/5 lbs "eighteen fifths." We need to divide this amount by 6 to divide this candy equally among 6 boxes. With fractions it is important to understand that dividing by 6 is the same as multiplying the denominator by 6. So the arithmetic works out as follows:

• (18 / 5) / 6 = (18 / 5) * (1 / 6) = (18 / (5 * 6)) = 18 / 30 = 9 / 15 = 3 / 5

 

Thus, she should place 3 / 5 lb "three fifths" into each of the six boxes.

 

Let's check our answer. How much candy do we have if 3 / 5 lb is placed into each of six boxes?

• (3 / 5 ) * 6 = 18 / 5 = 3 and 3 / 5, which is indeed the total amount of candy.

 

Hope this helps!