Question

Noelle has containers that each hold one gallon of liquid. She used these containers to dispose of waste from the chemistry laboratory. She collected 3 quarts 1 pint of liquid from the first table, 4 quarts from the second table, 2 quarts from the third table , and 3 quarts 1 pint from the fourth table. What is the least number of containers Alyssa needed to collect the waste ? ( 4 quarts = 1 gallon , 2 pints = 1 quart )

Answer 1

4 containers.

Explanation:

Since Noelle collected 3 quarts 1 pint of liquid from the first table, the amount of liquid collected in quarts is 3 quarts + 1 pint = 3 quarts + 1 pint × 1 quarts/2 pints = 3 quarts + 0.5 quarts = 3.5 quarts.

She also collected 4 quarts from the second table, 2 quarts from the third table.

Finally, she collected collected 3 quarts 1 pint of liquid from the fourth table, the amount of liquid collected in quarts is 3 quarts + 1 pint = 3 quarts + 1 pint × 1 quarts/2 pints = 3 quarts + 0.5 quarts = 3.5 quarts.

So, the total amount of liquid she collected in quarts is V = 3.5 quarts + 4 quarts + 2 quarts + 3.5 quarts = 7.5 quarts + 5.5 quarts = 13 quarts

We now convert this value to gallons to know the amount of containers Noelle needs since she has one gallon containers.

13 quarts = 13 × 1 quarts = 13 quarts × 1 gallon/4 quarts = 13/4 gallons = 3.25 gallons

Since the total amount of liquid is 3.25 gallons = 3 gallons + 0.25 gallons, Noelle would need 4 containers since 3 containers would contain the first 3 gallons and the fourth container would contain the remaining 0.25 gallons.

So, Alyssa would need 4 containers.