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5 books weight a total of 6 2/5 pounds. If each book weighs the same amount, how much does each book weigh? Show your work

5 books weight a total of 6 2/5 pounds. If each book weighs the same amount, how much-example-1
User Russell Hart
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1 Answer

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Hello there. To solve this question, we'll have to remember some properties about mixed fractions.

5 book weight a total of 6 2/5 pounds. If each book weighs the same amount, how much does each book weigh?

We start by converting the fraction from the mixed fraction notation to the normal notation:

Therefore we have:

Now, suppose each book weigh x pounds. 5 books weight will be equal to 5x.

If 5 books weigh 32/5, then we have the following equation:

Divide both sides of the equation by a factor of 5

To find the value of this fraction, the trick is to multiply it by 4/4 (when the denominator is 25):

Each book weighs 1.28 pounds.

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User Gunn
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