Answer: 7
Explanation:
You are given that Bill bought 38 1/2 feet of wire. Convert the mixed fraction into improper fraction.
The length L1 = 77/2
You are given that he cut the wire into several pieces, each one measuring 5 1/2 feet. Convert it too to improper fraction.
The length L2 = 11/2
To know how many number of pieces of wire he have after making the cuts, divide length L1 by length L2. That is,
L1/L2 = 77/2 ÷ 11/2
Change the division to multiplication by reciprocating 11/2 to 2/11
77/2 × 2/11 = 77/11 = 7
Therefore, he had 7 pieces of wires after making the cuts.