Question

A manufacturer of bird feeders cuts spacers from a tube that is 5 1/4 inches long. How many spacers can be cut from the tube if each spacer must be 3/4 inch​ thick?

Answer 1

Answer: 7 spacers can be cut from the tube.

Solution:

Length of the tube: L=5 1/4 in=(5*4+1)/4 in=(20+1)/4 in→L=21/4 in

Number of spacers: n=?

Thickness of each spacer: t=3/4 in

n=L/t

n=(21/4 in) / (3/4 in)

n= (21/4) * (4/3)

n=(21*4) / (4*3)

n=84/12

n=7

Answer 2

Answer: 7 spacers can be cut from the tube.

Solution:

Length of the tube: L=5 1/4 in=(5*4+1)/4 in=(20+1)/4 in→L=21/4 in

Number of spacers: n=?

Thickness of each spacer: t=3/4 in

n=L/t

n=(21/4 in) / (3/4 in)

n= (21/4) * (4/3)

n=(21*4) / (4*3)

n=84/12

n=7