Question

The recipe for beef stew calls for 1/4 teaspoon of pepper for every 3 potatoes. If 9 potatoes are used, how much pepper is needed? Solve the proportion to answer the question. Explain your steps.

Answer 1

Set up a proportion. 1/4 teaspoon to 3 potatoes is equal to ? to 9 potatoes

x= amount of pepper for 9 potatoes

(1/4)/3= x/9
cross multiply

(3 * x)= (1/4 * 9)

3x= 9/4
multiply both sides by 4

12x= 9
divide both sides by 12

x= 9/12
simplify by 3

x= 3/4 teaspoon


ANSWER: 3/4 teaspoon of pepper is needed for 9 potatoes.

Hooe this helps! :)

Answer 2

Sample response: Since 9 is 3 times the denominator of the first ratio, multiply the numerator of the first ratio by 3 to get the numerator of the second ratio. The amount of pepper is 3/4 teaspoon.