A candle maker has 4 1/2 pounds of clear wax. He wants to cut the wax into pieces that are 2/3 pound each. How many 2/3 pound pieces can he divide the wax into? How much wax is left over?

Answer :

Answer:

a)  10  pieces of  2/3 pound  can be made.

b) 0.54 pounds of wax is left over.

Step-by-step explanation:

Total amount of clear wax available =  [tex]4\frac{1}{2}  = \frac{9}{2}[/tex] pounds

So, the maker has in total 4.5 pounds of wax

Now, The weight of each piece = [tex]\frac{2}{3}  = 0.66[/tex]  pounds

To find the number of pieces that can be made out of 4.5 pounds of wax,

let that number = n

So, [tex]n = \frac{\textrm{Total weight of the clear wax}}{\textrm{Weight of each wax}}[/tex]

or, n = [tex]n = \frac{4.5}{0.66}  = 6.81[/tex]

So, nearly 6 pieces can be made completely out of the clear wax

Left over amount of wax  = Total weight -  Weights of the pieces made

                                            =  4.5- 6(0.66)

                                            = 0.54 pounds

Hence, 0.54 pounds of wax is left over

Other Questions