Paloma ran 3 3/4 miles around the school track. If each lap is 1/2 mile, how many laps did she run? Explain how to find the answer.

Question



Answer 1

. We are looking for the number, N, of laps. We are given the total distance ( in miles) for N laps that Penelope ran. and we are given the total distance ( in miles) of one lap. The problem asks us to find N, (how many laps Penelope ran). We see that this is a division problem ( how many 1/2 miles are there in 3 3/4 miles ) so we must solve : :

3 3⁄4 ÷ 1⁄2 = ( convert to improper fractions)

15⁄4 × 2⁄1 = ( flip fraction and multiply)

15⁄2 ( multiply and simplify)

7 1⁄2 ( convert to mixed number)

Answer 2

One lap = ¹/₂ mile, so ¹/₂ mile/lap

3 ³/₄ laps were run

So 3 ³/₄ laps * ¹/₂ mile/lap = ¹⁵/₄ * ¹/₂ = ¹⁵/₈ miles, or 1 ⁷/₈ miles