Question

A school group is helping plant a new city garden. Today they used 12 1/2 pounds of potting soil and planted 2/5 of the garden. How much more potting soil will they need to finish tomorrow?

Answer 1

Answer:

$18\frac{3}{4}$ pounds.  

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x be the total amount of potting soil needed to complete the planting in new garden.    

We are told that a school group is helping plant a new city garden. Today they used 12 1/2 pounds of potting soil and planted 2/5 of the garden. This means 2/5 of x equals to 12 1/2.

$\frac{2}{5} x=12\frac{1}{2}$

$\frac{2}{5} x=\frac{25}{2}$  

$x=\frac{25}{2}\times\frac{5}{2}$

$x=\frac{125}{4}$

To find the amount of soil needed for the next of planting we will subtract the amount of potting soil used on the first day $(\frac{25}{2})$ from amount of total potting soil $(\frac{125}{4})$.

$\text{Amount of potting soil needed for second day}=\frac{125}{4}-\frac{25}{2}$

$\text{Amount of potting soil needed for second day}=\frac{125}{4}-\frac{25\times 2}{2\times2}$

$\text{Amount of potting soil needed for second day}=\frac{125}{4}-\frac{50}{4}$

$\text{Amount of potting soil needed for second day}=\frac{75}{4}$

$\text{Amount of potting soil needed for second day}=\frac{75}{4}=18\frac{3}{4}$

Therefore, the group will need $18\frac{3}{4}$ pounds of potting soil to finish their work.