word question: "After Mike picked 6 figs, he wanted to share them w/..."

christopheran

New member
Hi,

Ok, I'm trying to help my daughter with her math... we have this poorly written question (imo), and I can figure out the answer, but not the math problem... not the calculation I guess you'd say.

Here it is:

"After Mike picked 6 figs, he wanted to share them with his fellow classmates. If Mike wants to give 3/4 of a fig to each of his classmates, then how many classmates will get some fig."

You would assume that a classmate would be a whole number, but apparently not. I can do this in my head by figuring that if 6 get 3/4 each, that leaves 6/4 remaining, so add 6 + 1 1/2 for the answer. 7 and a half. I do feel bad for the half a classmate.

Is there a better way than that to tackle this question though, or is subtracting the fraction from the whole and then multiplying the answer to that, then adding the number together, the best way to go about it?

Thanks,

Chris

Romsek

Full Member
Hi,

Ok, I'm trying to help my daughter with her math... we have this poorly written question (imo), and I can figure out the answer, but not the math problem... not the calculation I guess you'd say.

Here it is:

"After Mike picked 6 figs, he wanted to share them with his fellow classmates. If Mike wants to give 3/4 of a fig to each of his classmates, then how many classmates will get some fig."

You would assume that a classmate would be a whole number, but apparently not. I can do this in my head by figuring that if 6 get 3/4 each, that leaves 6/4 remaining, so add 6 + 1 1/2 for the answer. 7 and a half. I do feel bad for the half a classmate.

Is there a better way than that to tackle this question though, or is subtracting the fraction from the whole and then multiplying the answer to that, then adding the number together, the best way to go about it?

Thanks,

Chris
$$\displaystyle \dfrac{6~figs}{\frac 3 4 \frac{figs}{classmate}} = 6 \cdot \dfrac 4 3 ~classmate = \dfrac{24}{3}~classmate = 8~classmate$$

Jomo

Elite Member
Hi,

Ok, I'm trying to help my daughter with her math... we have this poorly written question (imo), and I can figure out the answer, but not the math problem... not the calculation I guess you'd say.

Here it is:

"After Mike picked 6 figs, he wanted to share them with his fellow classmates. If Mike wants to give 3/4 of a fig to each of his classmates, then how many classmates will get some fig."

You would assume that a classmate would be a whole number, but apparently not. I can do this in my head by figuring that if 6 get 3/4 each, that leaves 6/4 remaining, so add 6 + 1 1/2 for the answer. 7 and a half. I do feel bad for the half a classmate.

Is there a better way than that to tackle this question though, or is subtracting the fraction from the whole and then multiplying the answer to that, then adding the number together, the best way to go about it?

Thanks,

Chris
The 1 1/2 is not a number of students, rather it is how many figs are left over. 1 1/2 = 3/4 + 3/4 so two more students get their share of figs. Now 6+2=8.

Just repeatedly subtract 3/4 from 6 until you have less than 3/4 left and you'll see that you can do this 8 times. OR divide!

Last edited:

christopheran

New member
Ha!

Ok, that makes more sense

Thank you both very much. Me... teaching math, oh boy! But I knew when I needed help

Chris

Denis

Senior Member
Cut 1/4 off each fig : 6 students get the 3/4 pieces

Left is [1/4 1/4 1/4] and [1/4 1/4 1/4] : 2 more students

Jomo

Elite Member
Cut 1/4 off each fig : 6 students get the 3/4 pieces

Left is [1/4 1/4 1/4] and [1/4 1/4 1/4] : 2 more students
Simply brilliant. Outstanding!

Denis

Senior Member
Simply brilliant. Outstanding!
I know I'm bright: my mother called me sun...

Not outstanding, but instanding (in the corner)...

Jomo

Elite Member
I know I'm bright: my mother called me sun...
How many times are you going to repeat this story?