Elementary Math

Question

Julia bought a bag of nuts that weights 2 2/3 pound

of the nuts in the bag 1/4 are pecans and 1/2 are almonds . How many pounds of the nuts in the bag are pecans and almonds ?

Answer 1

First find out how much of the bag is pecans and almonds together.

So we have to add 1/4 and 1/2.

So find a common denominator for the 2 fractions. That would be 4. So express 1/2 in terms of a 4th.

1/2 = n/4.

Multiplying the 1/2 by 2/2 would give you 2/4.

Now add the 1/4 + 2/4 together and you get 3/4.

So the total of the pecans and almonds is 3/4 of the whole bag.

3/4 of 2 2/3 = x

3/4 x 2 2/3 = x

Writing the 2 2/3 as an improper fraction would give us 8/3.

3/4 x 8/3 = n

The 3's cancel out to become 1's. and the 4 divides into 8 2 times.

So the answer is 2 lbs is made up of pecans and almonds

Answer 2

Hi Billy,

There's a few ways to answer this question. I'll show you my favorite way.

I like to start out by converting the 2-2/3 lbs into a improper fraction. In this case it would be 8/3 (3/3 + 3/3 + 2/3)

Let's go after the almonds first since 1/2 is usually easier to find. In this case you multiple 8/3 x 1/2. Writing it out looks like this, where you multiply it across.

8 1 8

-- x -- = --

3 2 6

To simplify 8/6 further it's really 6/6 + 2/6 or 1 + 1/3 = 1-1/3 lbs of almonds.

Now, to find the pecans, you do the same thing, but instead of 1/2, you use 1/4

8 1 8

-- x -- = --

3 4 12

I'll let you simplify 8/12. Since I shouldn't be giving you all the answers! But now you have your answer for the pecans!

Now add the two together and you'll have your answer for almonds and pecans!

I hope this helps! If you have any follow up questions or are interested in tutoring, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I can tutoring through video conference! Good luck!