Question

Deron is making light switch plate from pieces of wood. He starts with a board that is 6 yards long. How many light switch plates can he make?

Answer 1

1) Gathering the data

1 board = 6 yrds long

1 switch plate = 1/3 ft (length)

2) Let's set proportions to solve this problem:

1 foot ----------------------3/9 yards

1/3 ------------------------- x

x = 1/3 *3/9

x=3/27

x=1/9 yard

2) Since one light switch is 1/3 foot, then with a board 6 yards long:

We can divide the 6 yards by 1/9

$\begin{gathered} \frac{6}{\frac{1}{9}}\text{ = 6 }\times\frac{9}{1}\text{ = 54} \\ \end{gathered}$

3) So with a board 6 yards long we can make 54 light switch