Question

Bulk flour costs \(1.79 per pound. How many pounds of flour can be purchased for \)17.37? Write your answer in the blank.

Short answer

9.7 pounds

Step-by-step solution

- Identify the given values

Recognize the cost per pound of flour and the total amount of money available for purchase. The cost per pound is \[1.79\](1.79) and the total amount available is \[17.37\](17.37).

- Set up the division equation

To determine the number of pounds of flour, divide the total amount of money by the cost per pound. The division equation will be \[\frac{17.37}{1.79}\](\frac{17.37}{1.79}).

- Perform the division

Carry out the division \[\frac{17.37}{1.79} = 9.7\](17.37 ÷ 1.79 = 9.7).

Key concepts

Cost Calculations

When we talk about cost calculations, we are looking at how much we need to pay for certain items or quantities. This involves simple arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and most importantly for this exercise, division. Let's break this down further with the example given.

We know that each pound of flour costs \(1.79\). If you have \(17.37\) to spend, you would want to find out how many pounds you can buy. This is where our calculation begins. We take the total amount of money (\17.37) and divide it by the cost per pound (\1.79).
This calculation helps us understand the total quantity we can purchase within a given budget. For everyday use, knowing how to do cost calculations can help you manage your money better and make smarter purchasing decisions.

Unit Rate

The unit rate is the cost per single unit of an item. In our example, it is \(1.79\) per pound of flour. Understanding unit rates can simplify various kinds of problems, especially when dealing with different quantities and prices.

By knowing the unit rate, you can determine how many units of a product you can buy for any amount of money. It’s simple: you take the total money available and divide it by the unit rate.
\[ \text{Number of Units} = \frac{\text{Total Money}}{\text{Unit Rate}} \]
So if you have \( 17.37\) and each pound of flour costs \( 1.79\), you divide \( 17.37\) by \( 1.79\). This will give you \[ \frac{17.37}{1.79} = 9.7 \] pounds of flour.

Knowing the unit rate also helps in comparing prices and finding the best deals when shopping.

Problem Solving

To effectively solve division problems like the one in our exercise, you need good problem-solving skills. This involves understanding the question, identifying the relevant information, and then applying the right mathematical operations.

First, identify the total amount of money you have and the cost per unit of the item you want to purchase. This is your key data.

Next, set up your division equation. For our flour example, the question asks how many pounds you can buy for \( 17.37\) when each pound costs \( 1.79\). Then, we write out the equation and solve it:
\[ \frac{17.37}{1.79} = 9.7 \]

Carries out the actual division, confirming the number of units you can purchase.

This process can be applied to a wide range of similar problems, making it a crucial skill in everyday life. It’s important to understand each step to ensure accurate results every time.