Question

Mary used 14 meters of ribbon to make bows and strips. she used 3/4 as much ribbon for bows as she did for strips. how many meters of ribbon did she use for bows and how many for strips?

Answer 1

Answer: Mary used 6 meters of ribbon for bows and 8 meters for strips.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given : The total length of the ribbon =  14 meters

Let x be the part Mary uses for strips.

Then part of ribbon she uses for bows = $\dfrac{3}{4}x$

According to the question , we have

$\dfrac{3}{4}x+x=14\\\\\Rightarrow\ \dfrac{3x+4x}{4}=14\\\\ \Rightarrow\ 7x=4(14)\\\\ \Rightarrow\ x=\dfrac{4(14)}{7}= 4(2)=8$

i.e. The length of ribbon she use for strips = 8 meters

The length of ribbon she use for bows = $\dfrac{3}{4}\times8 = 3\times2=6\text{ meters}$

∴ Mary used 6 meters of ribbon for bows and 8 meters for strips.

Answer 2

Total = 14 m.
ratio of bows:strips = 3:4
Length for bows = 3/(3+4)*14=6 m
Length for strips = 4/(3+4)*14=8 m

Check: 6m + 8m = 14 m = total, ok.