word problem help

[sherwoo]

Can someone help me figure out the steps to this word problem?
Thanks!!

A professional lawn care service can mow 2 3/4 acres of lawn in one hour. How many hours would it take them to mow a lawn that is 6 7/8 acres?

 

[Mrspi]

Can someone help me figure out the steps to this word problem?
Thanks!!

A professional lawn care service can mow 2 3/4 acres of lawn in one hour. How many hours would it take them to mow a lawn that is 6 7/8 acres?

Have you thought about using a proportion?

Let x = number of hours to mow 6 7/8 acres

We know they can mow 2 3/4 acres in 1 hour, so

(2 3/4) / 1 = (6 7/8) / x

Can you solve that proportion?

 

[sherwoo]

still trying

I can get to this point:

2 3/4x=6 7/8

x= 6 7/8 / 2 3/4

this is where I get stuck. How do you divide the compound fractions?

Thanks for the help!!

 

[Mrspi]

I can get to this point:

2 3/4x=6 7/8

x= 6 7/8 / 2 3/4

this is where I get stuck. How do you divide the compound fractions?

Thanks for the help!!

You can change each "mixed number" to an improper fraction, and THEN do the division.

Remember that dividing by a fraction can be re-written as "multiplying by the reciprocal".

So, for example, (3/4) / (7/8) = (3/4) * (8/7)

 

[sherwoo]

Thank you!!!

Got it! I really appreciate your help.
Thanks!