Question

Alex has five cups of strawberries. He wants to use / cups of strawberries for a fruit salad and / cups for jam. Does Alex have enough strawberries to make both recipes? Solve this problem any way you choose.

Answer 1

Since Alex only has 5 cups of strawberries, he does not have enough to make both recipes.

Explanation:

1 3/4 cups of strawberries + 3 1/2 cups of strawberries= 5 1/4 cups of strawberries. Alex needs more strawberries.

Answer 2

No.

Explanation:

To solve the Yes/No question,

First, write the equation:

5 =
`1(3)/(4)` +
`3(1)/(2)`

Then convert the mixed fraction to improper ones:

5 =
`(7)/(4)` +
`(7)/(2)`

Then find the LCM of the denominators 4 & 2 ( = 4 ) and solve:

5 =
`(7)/(4)` +
`(14)/(4)`

5 =
`(7+14)/(4)`

5 =
`(21)/(4)`

5 = 5.25

5 < 5.25

So because 5.25 is greater than 5, he doesn't have enough strawberries to make the recipes.