Question

Jackson’s backpack weighs 7 3/4 pounds. After he adds food and water to his backpack, it weighs 11 3/4 pounds. If the water weighs 1 3/4 pounds, how much does the food weigh? Use paper to show your work.

Answer 1

2.25 or 2 1/4 pounds

Explanation:

We need to find the weight of the food and water. To do this, find the difference between his backpack before the food and water and after. His backpack without the food is 7 3/4 pounds, and his backpack after is 11 3/4 pounds.

11 3/4 - 7 3/4

4

The food and water together weigh 4 pounds. We know the water weighs 1 3/4 pounds, so we can subtract it from the total to find what the food weighs.

4- 1 3/4

2 1/4

As a decimal: 2.25

The food weighs 2 1/4 or 2.25 pounds