DIVIDING RATIONAL NUMBERS WORD PROBLEMS

Problem 1 :

A diver needs to descend to a depth of 100 feet below sea level. She wants to do it in 5 equal descents. How far should she travel in each descent ?

Solution :

To find how far she should travel in each descent, we have to divide 100 by 5. 

Step 1 :

Take the reciprocal of the divisor 5.

5 ----> reciprocal ----> 1/5

Step 2 : 

Multiply 100 by 1/5

(100) x (1/5)  

Step 3 : Simplify

(20) x (1/1)

Step 4 : Multiply 

(20) x (1/1)  =  20    

So, she should travel 20 feet in each descent.

Problem 2 : 

A teacher wants to give pizza to her students and each student can eat 1/4 of a pizza. If there are 36 students in her class, how many pizzas does she need ?

Solution :

Given : One student can eat 1/4 of a pizza.

To find the number of pizzas required for 36 students, we have to multiply 36 by 1/4. 

36 ⋅ 1/4  =  9

So, the teacher needs 9 pizzas.

Problem 3 : 

Mason made 3/4 of a pound of trail mix. If he puts 3/8 of a pound into each bag, how many bags can Mason fill?

Solution :

To find the number of bags, we have to divide 3/4 by 3/8. 

(3/4) ÷ (3/8)  =  (3/4) ⋅ (8/3)

(3/4) ÷ (3/8)  =  24 / 12

(3/4) ÷ (3/8)  =  2

So, Mason fill can fill the trail mix in 2 bags. 

Problem 4 : 

Raymond bought 5 rolls of paper towels. He got 99⅘ meters of paper towels in all. How many meters of paper towels were on each roll ?

Solution :

To find no. of meters of paper towels were on each roll, we have to divide 99 4/5 by 5. 

Step 1 :

Take the reciprocal of the divisor 5.

5 ----> reciprocal ----> 1/5

Step 2 : 

Multiply 99 4/5 by 1/5

(99 4/5) x (1/5)  =  (499/5) x (1/5)    

(99 4/5) x (1/5)  =  499/25

(99 4/5) x (1/5)  =  19²⁴⁄₂₅    

So, 19²⁴⁄₂₅ meters of paper towels were on each roll.

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