Question

a carton contains soup cans weighing a total of 20 pounds. each can weigh 1 1/4 pounds. how many cans does the carton contain.

Answer 1

Answer: Each can weigh 1 1/4 pounds, so if you multiply the number of cans (16) by the weight of each can (1 1/4), you will get the total weight of the cans (20 pounds).

Step-by-step explanation: To find the number of soup cans in the carton, we need to divide the total weight of the cans by the weight of each can.

Given that the total weight of the cans is 20 pounds and each can weighs 1 1/4 pounds, we can divide 20 by 1 1/4 to find the number of cans.

To divide fractions, we multiply the dividend (20) by the reciprocal of the divisor (1 1/4).

Recall that the reciprocal of a fraction is obtained by flipping the numerator and denominator.

So the reciprocal of 1 1/4 is 4/5.

Now, let's perform the division:

20 ÷ 1 1/4 = 20 × 4/5 = 80/5 = 16

Therefore, the carton contains 16 soup cans.

Each can weigh 1 1/4 pounds, so if you multiply the number of cans (16) by the weight of each can (1 1/4), you will get the total weight of the cans (20 pounds).

Answer 2

you have to divide the 20 total lbs into the 1 and 1/4 or 1.25 each can weighs. Your answer would be 16 cans. Then check your work by multiplying 16 cans by 1 and 1/4 or 1.25.