Final answer:
To find out how much a lizard's tail grew in a single week, after a total growth of 3 3/4 inches over 6 weeks, we must convert the mixed number to an improper fraction and then divide by 6. The calculation reveals a growth of 5/8 of an inch per week.
Step-by-step explanation:
If in 6 weeks a lizard's tail regrows 3 3/4 inches long, to determine how much it grew in a week, we perform a division. The total growth is divided by the number of weeks. First, convert the mixed number 3 3/4 inches to an improper fraction, which is 15/4 inches. Then divide this by 6 to find the growth per week.
Here is the step-by-step calculation:
- Convert 3 3/4 inches to an improper fraction:
(3 × 4) + 3 = 12 + 3 = 15
Therefore, 3 3/4 inches is the same as 15/4 inches. - Divide 15/4 inches by 6 to find how much the tail grew in one week:
(15/4) ÷ 6 = (15/4) × (1/6) = 15/24 inches. - Simplify the fraction if possible:
15/24 can be simplified to 5/8 by dividing both numerator and denominator by 3.
Therefore, the lizard's tail grew 5/8 of an inch per week.