Question

If you add more support so the shelf can now hold 5 1/4 pound, how many books can the shelf hold now? Show your work

Answer 1

Question:

A book weights 3/8 of a pound and a shelf can support $3\frac{3}{4}$ pounds.  If you add more support, so the shelf can now hold $5\frac{1}{4}$ pound, how many books can the shelf hold now? Show your work

Answer:

14 books

Step-by-step explanation:

Given

$Book = \frac{3}{8}lb$

Required

Determine the number of books the shelf can now hold.

From the question, we understand that the shelf can initially hold $3\frac{3}{4}$ pounds.

However, with more supports; the shelf can now hold up to $5\frac{1}{4}$ pound

The number of books it can hold is calculated by dividing the amount of pound the shelf can now hold with the weight of 1 book.

$Books = 5\frac{1}{4} / \frac{3}{8}$

Convert mixed number to improper fraction

$Books = \frac{21}{4} / \frac{3}{8}$

Change the division symbol to multiplication

$Books = \frac{21}{4} * \frac{8}{3}$

$Books = 7 * 2$

$Books = 14$

This implies that the shelf can now hold 14 books