Fraction math problem

Question

Each cookie recipe needs 2 1/3 cups of flour. How much flour would be in 3 batches of cookies?

Answer 1

There are a few ways to go about this.

1) Multiplication: 3 x (2 and 1/3)

2) Addition (2 and 1/3) + (2 and 1/3) + (2 and 1/3)

and, of course, 3) grabbing the measuring cups out of the drawer and trying it for yourself.

But, for most students, the 2nd one works best here.

(2 and 1/3) + (2 and 1/3) + (2 and 1/3)

that's really

2 + 1/3 + 2 + 1/3 + 2 + 1/3

rearranging this somewhat, we get

2+2+2+ 1/3 +1/3 +1/3

And you already know 2+2+2

and 1/3 +1/3 +1/3 = 3/3 = 1 whole

So, finally, our question becomes, what is 2+2+2+1?