Question

Ryan bought 3 1/2 boxes of paper clips. Allan bought 1 3/4 more boxes than Ryan.

Colin bought 1 1/2 times as many boxes as Allan How many boxes did Colin buy?

Answer 1

Colin bought 7 7/8 boxes

Explanation:

Let R represent the number of boxes bought by Ryan and A represent the number of boxes bought by Allan

R = 3 1/2

Convert to improper fraction:
3 1/2 = (3 x 2 + 1)/2 = 7/2

Allan bought 1 3/4 more boxes than Ryan

A = R + 1 3/4

Convert 1 3/4 to improper fraction:
1 3/4 7/4

So A = 7/2 + 7/4 = 14/4 + 7/4 = 21/4

Colin bought 1 1/2 times as many boxes as Allan
C = 1 1/2 x A

Convert 1 1/2 to improper fraction:

1 1/2 = 3/2

So C = 3/2 x 21/4

= 63/8 = 7 7/8 boxes