Question

Jonathan measured 2 cups of flour into a bowl on the counter. Then he spilled part of it, abd now there is only 3/8 cup left. How much did he spill.

Answer 1

First, use the information given to create an equation to help you solve:
2 cups - X= 3/8 cups

Then, make the whole number into a fraction so it is easier to manipulate the equation:
2 cups= 16/8 cups

16/8 cups - X= 3/8 cups

Set the equation equal to X, which you are solving for (remember! What you do to one side of the equal sign, you have to do to the other.)

16/8 cups - X= 3/8 cups
- 3/8 cups + X= - 3/8 cups + X

Combine like terms:
16/8 cups-3/8 cups-X+X= 3/8 cups - 3/8 cups + X

13/8 cups= X
Or
1 5/8 cups= X
(Same thing, just different format)


Jonathan spilled 13/8 cups.

Answer 2

2 cups was our starting point and we were left with 3/8 cups left after he spilled it, we are looking to find how much he spilled.

We could start by making 2 into a fraction so we could minus 3/8 easily.

2 = 16/8 (Two wholes is 16 eights.)

Now solve like a regular subtraction equation.

16/8 - 3/8 = 13/8

Our answer is 13/8 which simplified as a mixed fraction is 1 5/8

We lost 1 and 5/8 cups.