#4 Mixed Fraction word problem?

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1 Answer
Nov 13, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, rewrite the mixed number #2 3/8# as an improper fraction:

#2 3/8 = 2 + 3/8 = (8/8 xx 2) + 3/8 = 16/8 + 3/8 = (16 + 3)/8 = 19/8#

Now we can ask the question:

How many times does #19/8# go into 38?

Or, in other words:

What is 38 divided by #19/8#?

#38 -: 19/8 => 38/1 -: 19/8 => (38/1)/(19/8)#

We can use this rule for dividing fractions to evaluate this expression:

#(color(red)(a)/color(blue)(b))/(color(green)(c)/color(purple)(d)) = (color(red)(a) xx color(purple)(d))/(color(blue)(b) xx color(green)(c))#

#(color(red)(38)/color(blue)(1))/(color(green)(19)/color(purple)(8)) =>#

#(color(red)(38) xx color(purple)(8))/(color(blue)(1) xx color(green)(19)) =>#

#(cancel(color(red)(38))2 xx color(purple)(8))/(color(blue)(1) xx cancel(color(green)(19))) =>#

#16/1 =>#

#16#

You can get 16 pieces.