Question

So I just wanna see if I got this one correct my question is.... Each volume of an encyclopedia is 2 1/3 inches wide. How many volumes will fit on a shelf 18 inches wide?

Answer 1

namely how many times does 2 and 1/3 go into 18, well, is just the quotient of both,

let's first convert the mixed fraction to "improper" and then do the division


`\bf \stackrel{mixed}{2(1)/(3)}\implies \cfrac{2\cdot 3+1}{3}\implies \stackrel{improper}{\cfrac{7}{3}} \\\\\\ \cfrac{18}{\quad(7)/(3) \quad }\implies \cfrac{(18)/(1)}{\quad(7)/(3) \quad }\implies \cfrac{18}{1}\cdot \cfrac{3}{7}\implies \cfrac{54}{7}\implies 7(5)/(7)`

of course, you won't be chopping off a volume, so only the whole number will go from the quotient.