Question

A coffeepot contains 1 1/2 quqarts of coffee. After Tonya pours an equal amount of coffee into two cups, 3 1/2 cups of coffee still remain in the pot. How much coffee did Tonya pour into each cup?

Answer 1

$\bf 1\frac{1}{2}\implies \cfrac{1\cdot 2+1}{2}\implies \cfrac{3}{2}\quad \textit{now, how much is a quart of that?} \\\\\\ \cfrac{3}{2}\cdot \cfrac{1}{4}\implies \stackrel{of~coffee}{\cfrac{3}{8}}\impliedby makes\quad \stackrel{poured}{2cups}+\stackrel{remaining}{3\frac{1}{2}cups}\implies 5\frac{1}{2}~cups$

$\bf \textit{now if }\frac{3}{8}\textit{ of coffee makes }5\frac{1}{2}\textit{ cups, how much in 1 cup?} \\\\\\ \cfrac{\quad \frac{3}{8}\quad }{5\frac{1}{2}}\implies \cfrac{\quad \frac{3}{8}\quad }{\frac{5\cdot 2+1}{2}}\implies \cfrac{\quad \frac{3}{8}\quad }{\frac{11}{2}}\implies \cfrac{3}{8}\cdot \cfrac{2}{11}\implies \stackrel{\textit{of coffee makes one cup}}{\cfrac{3}{44}}$