Given:
Area of sample board: 1/3 square ft.
Weight of sample board: 1/5 lbs
We need to get the weight of the whole square foot.
1/3 square foot is only a part of the whole square foot. Its corresponding weight is 1/5 pounds. We need to divide the area by its corresponding weight to get the total weight per square foot.
1/3 ÷ 1/5
Rules of dividing fractions:
1st fraction: 1/3 ; 2nd fraction: 1/5
1) Get the reciprocal of the 2nd fraction. 1/5 ⇒ 5/1
2) Multiply 1st fraction to the reciprocal of the 2nd fraction
1/3 * 5/1 = 5/3
3) Simplify fraction.
5/3 is an improper fraction. To simplify it, it needs to become a mixed fraction.
5/3 = 1 2/3 pounds.