Q:

A crew of loggers cleared 1/2 acre of lumber in 4 days. How long will it take the same crew to clear 2 3/4 acres of lumber?

Accepted Solution

A:
Set up a proportion of acres to days. 1/2 acre is to 4 days as 2 3/4 acres is to x days.

x= # days to clear 2 3/4 acres
2 3/4 to improper fraction= 11/4

(1/2)/4 = (11/4)/x
cross multiply

(1/2 * x) = (4 * 11/4)
on the right, the 4 "cancels out"

1/2x= 11
divide both sides by 1/2

x= 11 Γ· 1/2
to divide fractions, multiply by reciprocal/inverse of 1/2

x= 11 * 2/1
x= 22 days

ANSWER: It would take 22 days to clear 2 3/4 acres.

Hope this helps! :)