Question

(Help Please)

Answer 1

Irst thought: since he needs 7 3/4 tons, and each load can carry LESS than a ton, he'll need to make MORE than 7 3/4 loads. So when you get your answer, make sure it it passes that common sense test. Next: He's got to divide the 7 3/4 ton total among all those loads, 3/4 ton at a time. So he needs to divide: 7 3/4 divided by 3/4. It will be easier to do the math if we turn 7 3/4 into an improper fraction, which will be 31/4. So we have to divide 31/4 divided by 3/4, which will give us 10, with 1/4 left over, for a total of 10 1/4 loads. BUT: the wording is that each load carries AT MOST 3/4 ton, so he may carry less than that amount in any given load(s). So he needs to do an amount GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO 10 3/4 loads. For practical purposes, that means he has to fill his truck (at least part way) 11 different times. (Think of it as completely filled the first 10 times, and 3/4 filled on the 11th/final time.)