Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics (5733)Number and QuantityMedium
A recipe calls for 2 3/4 cups of flour. If a baker wants to make 1.5 times the recipe, how much flour, in cups, will be needed?
- A4.25 cups
- B4.125 cups
- C5.5 cups
- D3.25 cups
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. 4.125 cups
To solve this, first convert 2 3/4 to a decimal or improper fraction. 2 3/4 is 2.75. Then, multiply 2.75 by 1.5 to find the total flour needed: 2.75 * 1.5 = 4.125 cups.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This could be a result of rounding prematurely or an arithmetic error.
- C. This is double the original recipe, not 1.5 times.
- D. This might result from an incorrect conversion or multiplication error.
Mixed Number to Decimal Conversion
Converting a mixed number (whole number and a fraction) into its decimal equivalent involves converting the fraction part to a decimal and adding it to the whole number.
- Fractions can be converted to decimals by dividing the numerator by the denominator.
- Mixed numbers combine a whole number and a proper fraction.
- Decimal form is often easier for multiplication and division.
Memory trick: Mix and match, then multiply the batch!