Question

You need 3 1/2 cups of flour for each batch of cupcakes. How many whole batches can make if you have 17 cups of flour? Show two ways.

Answer 1

ANSWER:

4 batches of cupcakes can be made.

SOLUTION:

Given, we need $3\frac{1}{2}$ cups of flour for each batch of cupcakes. And we have 17 cups of flour.

We need to find how many batches can be made.

1st way:

We will get the number of batches when we divide the available cups with cups required for one batch.

Available cups = 17 and required cups for one batch = $3\frac{1}{2}$ = $\frac{7}{2}$ cups

number of batches = $\frac{17}{\frac{7}{2}}$

$=\frac{17}{1} \times \frac{2}{7}$

$=\frac{34}{7}$ = 4.857

As the number of batches can’t be fraction, we will neglect the fractional part.

2nd way:

Let the number of batches be x.

Then, cups of flour required for batches must be less than available flour

(x)($\frac{7}{2}$) < 17

(x)(7) < (2)(17)

7x < 34

x < $\frac{34}{7}$

x < 4.857

As the number of batches must be an whole number, x becomes 4.

Hence, 4 batches of cupcakes can be made.