Question

Each paper clip is 7/8 an inch long and cost $0.03. Exactly enough paper clips are laid end to end to have a total length of 56 inches. What is the total cost of these paper clips?

Answer 1

Step 1)
`(56)/(1)` /
`(7)/(8)` =
`(56)/(1)` x
`(8)/(7)` =
`(448)/(7)` = 64

Step 2) 64 x 0.03 = $1.92

Instructions step-by-step:
1) First take the total inches and divide it by the length of each paper clip to figure out how many paper clips there are. When fractions divide they do copy, dot, flip-flop (how I learned it) it basically means to keep the dividend (the number you are dividing) and multiply it with the reciprocal of the number that will be dividing by is called the divisor. It becomes
`(56)/(1)` x
`(8)/(7)` which equals
`(448)/(7)` and when simplified it equals 64.

2) Next, multiply the amount of paperclips to the cost. So as shown above: 64 x 0.03 = $1.92

The cost is $1.92.

I hope this was understandable. :)