Question

You need to haul a load of patio bricks to a job site. Each brick weighs 4 pounds 14 ounces. Your truck can carry a 3/4-ton load. How many bricks can your truck carry in a full load?

Answer 1

Convert "3/4 ton" into pounds.  Use the identity 2000 lb = 1 ton.
                                     2000 lb           1500 lb
Then       [(3/4) ton] * ---------------- = ----------------
                                        1 ton                 1

Now divide 1500 lb by 4 lb 14 oz.  Note that 4 lb 14 oz = 4 14/16 lb, or
4 7/8 lb, or 4.875 lb.

Then, divide 1500 lb by

4.875 lb 
------------ to determine the number of bricks the truck can safely carry.
 1 brick

This comes out to 1500/4.875 bricks, or approx. 307 bricks.