Question

Alex buys 2 1/2 pounds of grapes. He buys 1 1/4 times as many pounds of apples as grapes. How many pounds of apples does he buy?

Answer 1

Grapes = 2 1/2 pounds = 5/2 pounds
Apples = 1 1/4 times grapes = 5/4 times grapes

Apples = 5/4 * 5/2 = 25/8 pounds = 3 1/8 pounds

Answer 2

So if, 2 1/2 = 5/2 and 1 1/4 = 5/4,
then 5/2 * 5/4 = 5*5 / 2*4 = 25/8 is simplified to 3 1/8 pounds.