Chef had to fill up 2 1/4 containers with mashed potatoes. He ended up using 3 1/2 pounds of mashed potatoes. How many pounds would he use id he had to fill up 3 containers?

1 Answer
Jun 12, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, convert:

#2 1/4# to #2.25#

#3 1/2# to #3.5#

We can now write this problem as a ratio:

#3.5# pounds #-> 2.25# contains #: p -> 3# containers

We can now write this as an equation and solve for #p# pounds:

#p/3 = 3.5/2.25#

#color(red)(3) xx p/3 = color(red)(3) xx 3.5/2.25#

#cancel(color(red)(3)) xx p/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(3))) = 10.5/2.25#

#p = 4.bar6#

#4.bar6 = 4 2/3#

Chef would need #4 2/3# pounds of potatoes to fill 3 containers