200k views
4 votes
If 1 gallon of paint covers 200 square feet, how much paint is needed to cover 500 square feet?

User Paul Mason
by
7.1k points

1 Answer

4 votes

To determine how much paint is needed to cover 500 square feet, we can use a proportion.

Given that 1 gallon of paint covers 200 square feet, we can set up the following proportion:

1 gallon / 200 square feet = x gallons / 500 square feet

To solve for x (the amount of paint needed to cover 500 square feet), we cross-multiply:

1 gallon * 500 square feet = 200 square feet * x gallons

500 gallons * square feet = 200 square feet * x gallons

Now, divide both sides of the equation by 200 square feet to isolate x:

(500 gallons * square feet) / 200 square feet = x gallons

Simplifying the equation, we get:

2.5 gallons = x

Therefore, you would need 2.5 gallons of paint to cover 500 square feet.

User Bayard
by
7.7k points