Question

How to do the problem

Answer 1

There are 153 people who each ate 1/4 pounds. Therefore, the amount of watermelon eaten is 153/4 pounds.
The amount of watermelon served is
$8 \frac{1}{4} + 9 \frac{1}{4} + 8 \frac{7}{8} + 9 \frac{5}{8} + 10 \frac{3}{4}$
$= \frac{8 \times 4 + 1}{4} + \frac{9 \times 4 + 1}{4} \\ + \frac{8 \times 8 + 7}{8} + \frac{9 \times 8 + 5}{8} \\ + \frac{10 \times 4 + 3}{4}$
$= \frac{33}{4} + \frac{37}{4} + \frac{71}{8} + \frac{77}{8} + \frac{43}{4} \\ = \frac{33 \times 2}{4 \times 2} + \frac{37 \times 2}{4 \times 2} + \frac{71}{8} \\ + \frac{77}{8} + \frac{43 \times 2}{4 \times 2}$
$= \frac{66 + 74 + 71 + 77 + 86}{8}$
$= \frac{374}{8} = \frac{186}{4}$
There is 186/4 total watermelon. Minus the 153/4 that was eaten,
$\frac{186 - 153}{4} = \frac{33}{4} = 8 \frac{1}{4}$

The leftover watermelon is 8 & 1/4 pounds.