A teacher's aid was given 5 1/2 pounds of molding clay and asked to separate it into equal amounts for 3 classrooms. How many pounds of clay does each classroom receive?

Master the NLN PAX Mathematics 1 Exam with our comprehensive study guide and quizzes. Test your knowledge with multiple choice questions tailored for the PAX Math exam, featuring detailed explanations and tips to enhance your preparation and increase your chances of success.

Multiple Choice

A teacher's aid was given 5 1/2 pounds of molding clay and asked to separate it into equal amounts for 3 classrooms. How many pounds of clay does each classroom receive?

Explanation:
Dividing a quantity into equal parts shows how much goes to each part. Here, 5 1/2 pounds of clay are to be shared among 3 classrooms, so each classroom gets the total divided by 3. Convert 5 1/2 to an improper fraction: 11/2. Then (11/2) ÷ 3 equals (11/2) × (1/3) = 11/6, which is 1 5/6 when written as a mixed number. So each classroom receives 1 5/6 pounds. Quick check: 1 5/6 × 3 = 11/6 × 3 = 11/2 = 5 1/2, which matches the total.

Dividing a quantity into equal parts shows how much goes to each part. Here, 5 1/2 pounds of clay are to be shared among 3 classrooms, so each classroom gets the total divided by 3. Convert 5 1/2 to an improper fraction: 11/2. Then (11/2) ÷ 3 equals (11/2) × (1/3) = 11/6, which is 1 5/6 when written as a mixed number. So each classroom receives 1 5/6 pounds. Quick check: 1 5/6 × 3 = 11/6 × 3 = 11/2 = 5 1/2, which matches the total.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy