Word problem please help

H

heather.priggins

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Feb 3, 2022
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Part A
Paul has 1 1/2 feet of string.
How many 1/5 inch pieces can he cut from it?

Part B
Solve the problem using a reciprocal and multiplication. Show your work.
 
heather.priggins said:
Part A
Paul has 1 1/2 feet of string.
How many 1/5 inch pieces can he cut from it?

Part B
Solve the problem using a reciprocal and multiplication. Show your work.
Click to expand...
Please show us what you have tried and exactly where you are stuck.

Please follow the rules of posting in this forum, as enunciated at:


Please share your work/thoughts about this problem.
 
I have no idea how to start this problem. I don't know how to figure this out. I tried multiplying and I just can't figure it out.
 
heather.priggins said:
I have no idea how to start this problem. I don't know how to figure this out. I tried multiplying and I just can't figure it out.
Click to expand...
Please show your actual work, rather than just describe it. What did you multiply? What did you get?

heather.priggins said:
Part A
Paul has 1 1/2 feet of string.
How many 1/5 inch pieces can he cut from it?

Part B
Solve the problem using a reciprocal and multiplication. Show your work.
Click to expand...
Did you consider a reciprocal?

But rather than tell you what to use, as they have done, I would suggest a way to decide what to do: Try a simpler problem.

What would you do if Paul had 6 feet of string and wanted 2-inch pieces? Your first concern should be the two different units involved.
 
Could you do this similar question?
Paul has 6 feet of string.
How many 2 inch pieces can he cut from it?
 
Imagine you have 6 feet of string. Can you visualise that length?
Now how many pieces 2 inches long could you cut from that?
Do you still think 3 is the answer?
 
heather.priggins said:
18 inches? Sorry I'm so horrible at this.
Click to expand...
Hi heather. Yes, 1½ feet is 18 inches.

heather.priggins said:
3?
Click to expand...
3 pieces would be correct, if you started with a 6-inch string. (In his example, Dr. Peterson wrote "6 feet".)

Regardless, what did you do to get 3? Did you divide 6 by 2? If so, then you're on the right track! Dividing a long length by a shorter length tells us how many short lengths make up the long length. (Both lengths' units must be the same, before dividing.)

:)
 
Otis said:
Hi heather. Yes, 1½ feet is 18 inches.


3 pieces would be correct, if you started with a 6-inch string. (In his example, Dr. Peterson wrote "6 feet".)

Regardless, what did you do to get 3? Did you divide 6 by 2? If so, then you're on the right track! Dividing a long length by a shorter length tells us how many short lengths make up the long length.

:)
Click to expand...
... as long as the units are the same :)
 
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