Question

It takes a boa constructor 4.5 days to digest 50 pounds of food. At this rate, in how many days will the boa constructor to eat 175 pounds of food?

Answer 1

Using the rate at which a boa constrictor digests food, a proportion is set up comparing 4.5 days for 50 pounds to x days for 175 pounds. After cross-multiplying and dividing, it is calculated that it would take the boa constrictor 15.75 days to digest 175 pounds of food.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the rate at which a boa constrictor digests food and is seeking to determine how long it will take to digest a different amount of food given that rate.

To solve the problem, we can use a proportion since the rate of digestion is constant. The boa constrictor takes 4.5 days to digest 50 pounds of food. T

herefore, we can set up the following proportion to find out how many days it will take to digest 175 pounds of food:

4.5 days / 50 pounds = x days / 175 pounds

To find the value of x, we cross-multiply and divide:

1. Multiply 4.5 days by 175 pounds to get a product.
2. Multiply 50 pounds by x days to get the other side of the equation.
3. Divide the product from step 1 by 50 pounds to solve for x.

Completing the calculation:

4.5 days * 175 pounds = 787.5 pound-days
50 pounds * x days = 787.5 pound-days
x = 787.5 pound-days / 50 pounds
x = 15.75 days

Therefore, it will take the boa constrictor 15.75 days to digest 175 pounds of food at the same rate.