Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics (5733)Number and QuantityMedium
A chef is preparing a dish that requires 3.5 cups of broth. If the chef only has a measuring cup that measures in 1/4 cup increments, how many 1/4 cup servings of broth will be needed?
- A16 servings
- B10 servings
- C14 servings
- D7 servings
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. 14 servings
To find out how many 1/4 cup servings are needed, divide the total amount of broth required (3.5 cups) by the size of each serving (1/4 cup).
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Incorrect; this is 3.5 multiplied by 4, which is correct for converting to 1/4 cups, but not for servings.
- B. Incorrect; this might be 3.5 divided by 0.35, or a similar miscalculation.
- D. Incorrect; this is 3.5 divided by 0.5, or a different calculation error.
Dividing Decimals by Fractions
To divide a decimal by a fraction, convert the decimal to a fraction or convert the fraction to a decimal. Then perform the division (or multiply by the reciprocal if using fractions).
- Convert decimal to fraction: 3.5 = 7/2.
- Convert fraction to decimal: 1/4 = 0.25.
- Division by fraction is equivalent to multiplication by its reciprocal.
Memory trick: Decimal to fraction, then flip and multiply; or fraction to decimal, then simply divide!