Question

A convenience store sells 1/3 pound of one brand of trail mix for $1.50 and 1/2 pound of another brand of trail mix for $2.15. which brand has a lower price per pound? explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

To see how much 1 pound of trail mix cost, multiply the fractions by a number that will make them whole. And with that number you used to multiply the fraction, you do with the price.

What number could we multiply 1/3 by to get 1?

3 is the answer! 3 * 1/3 = 3/3 = 1

Multiply the price by 3.

1.50 * 3 = $4.50

What number can make 1/2 a whole number? 2.

2 * 1/2 = 2/2 = 1

Multiply the price by 2.

2.15 * 2 = $4.30

So, the price per pound for the first brand of trail mix is $4.50
And for the second brand of trail mix is $4.30

The second brand is cheaper by the pound... But maybe you should go with the slightly more expensive trail mix... Might be better... Or not.