Final answer:
Jess can make 18 bows from the 26 feet of ribbon she has, using 13/9 feet of ribbon for each bow after performing the necessary division.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jess is working on a project that involves cutting bows out of ribbon. To answer the question of how many bows Jess can make with the 26 feet of ribbon she has, given that each bow requires 13/9 feet of ribbon, we need to perform a division operation. This is a clear-cut example of a real-world application of basic division in fractions.
Firstly, let's find out how many feet of ribbon one bow requires. The question gives us this information: each bow requires 13/9 feet of ribbon. To find out how many bows Jess can make, divide the total length of the ribbon she has by the length required for each bow:
Total number of bows = Total length of ribbon ÷ Length of ribbon for one bow
Total number of bows = 26 feet ÷ 13/9 feet
We convert the division of fractions into a multiplication by the reciprocal of the divisor:
Total number of bows = 26 × 9/13
Total number of bows = 234/13
When you divide 234 by 13, you get 18. Therefore, Jess can make 18 full bows with the 26 feet of ribbon she has.
To conclude, we applied basic arithmetic operations involving fractions to address the real-world problem. Jess is able to make precisely 18 bows with the amount of ribbon at her disposal for gift wrapping.