Question

Dominic is stacking legos to make a tower. He takes a break when the tower is 4 1/2 feet tall, which is 3/8 of the height of the tower he wants to build. How tall is the tower when finished?

Answer 1

Tower is 9 ft tall when it is finished.

Explanation:

Given that:

Height of the tower when Dominic takes a break =
`4(1)/(2)` feet

The height of the tower as built by Dominic =
`\frac{3}8` of the total height

Let the total height of the tower to be built =
`x` feet

Let us have a look at the method to convert mixed fraction to a fractional number.

`a(b)/(c) = \frac{a* c +b}c\\\Rightarrow 4(1)/(2) = (4* 2 +1)/(2)=\frac{9}2`

As per question statement,
`\frac{3}8` of the total height is equal to
`4(1)/(2)` feet.

We can write the equation as:

`(3)/(8)x = (9)/(2)\\\Rightarrow x = (9)/(2)* (8)/(3)\\\Rightarrow x = (72)/(6)\\\Rightarrow x = \bold{9\ ft}`

Therefore, tower is 9 ft tall when it is finished.