Calculating Plant Food for Each Yard

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 140 views

Dell's Plant Food Conundrum: A Mathematical Exploration

In this article, we will delve into a mathematical problem presented by Dell, who tends to multiple flowerbeds in his yard. Dell uses a specific amount of plant food in each flowerbed, and we are tasked with determining the total amount of plant food he uses. This problem requires us to apply basic arithmetic operations, specifically multiplication and addition, to arrive at the solution.

Dell cares for two yards, each containing a different number of flowerbeds. In one yard, he tends to 3 flowerbeds, while in the other yard, he has 2 flowerbeds. To nourish these flowerbeds, Dell uses a specific amount of plant food, which is given as $$2 \frac{2}{3}$$ gallons per flowerbed. Our objective is to calculate the total amount of plant food Dell uses in both yards.

Calculating Plant Food for Each Yard

To find the total amount of plant food used in each yard, we need to multiply the number of flowerbeds in each yard by the amount of plant food used per flowerbed. Let's start with the first yard, which contains 3 flowerbeds.

First Yard

Number of flowerbeds: 3
Amount of plant food per flowerbed: $$2 \frac{2}{3}$$ gallons
Total plant food used in the first yard: $$3 \times 2 \frac{2}{3}$$ gallons

To multiply a mixed number by a whole number, we can convert the mixed number to an improper fraction. In this case, $$2 \frac{2}{3}$$ can be converted to an improper fraction as follows:

2 \frac{2}{3} = \frac{(2 \times 3) + 2}{3} = \frac{6 + 2}{3} = \frac{8}{3}

Now, we can multiply the number of flowerbeds by the amount of plant food per flowerbed:

3 \times \frac{8}{3} = \frac{3 \times 8}{3} = \frac{24}{3} = 8

Therefore, Dell uses 8 gallons of plant food in the first yard.

Second Yard

Number of flowerbeds: 2
Amount of plant food per flowerbed: $$2 \frac{2}{3}$$ gallons
Total plant food used in the second yard: $$2 \times 2 \frac{2}{3}$$ gallons

Using the same approach as before, we can convert the mixed number to an improper fraction:

2 \frac{2}{3} = \frac{(2 \times 3) + 2}{3} = \frac{6 + 2}{3} = \frac{8}{3}

Now, we can multiply the number of flowerbeds by the amount of plant food per flowerbed:

2 \times \frac{8}{3} = \frac{2 \times 8}{3} = \frac{16}{3}

To convert this improper fraction to a mixed number, we can divide the numerator by the denominator:

\frac{16}{3} = 5 \frac{1}{3}

Therefore, Dell uses $$5 \frac{1}{3}$$ gallons of plant food in the second yard.

Calculating Total Plant Food Used

To find the total amount of plant food used by Dell, we need to add the amount used in each yard. We have already calculated the amount used in each yard:

First yard: 8 gallons
Second yard: $$5 \frac{1}{3}$$ gallons

To add these amounts, we can convert the mixed number to an improper fraction:

5 \frac{1}{3} = \frac{(5 \times 3) + 1}{3} = \frac{15 + 1}{3} = \frac{16}{3}

Now, we can add the amounts:

8 + \frac{16}{3} = \frac{8 \times 3}{3} + \frac{16}{3} = \frac{24}{3} + \frac{16}{3} = \frac{40}{3}

To convert this improper fraction to a mixed number, we can divide the numerator by the denominator:

\frac{40}{3} = 13 \frac{1}{3}

Therefore, Dell uses $$13 \frac{1}{3}$$ gallons of plant food in total.

In this article, we have explored a mathematical problem presented by Dell, who tends to multiple flowerbeds in his yard. We have calculated the total amount of plant food used by Dell, taking into account the number of flowerbeds in each yard and the amount of plant food used per flowerbed. Our solution has required us to apply basic arithmetic operations, specifically multiplication and addition, to arrive at the final answer.
Dell's Plant Food Conundrum: A Mathematical Exploration - Q&A

In our previous article, we explored a mathematical problem presented by Dell, who tends to multiple flowerbeds in his yard. We calculated the total amount of plant food used by Dell, taking into account the number of flowerbeds in each yard and the amount of plant food used per flowerbed. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to further clarify the solution and address any questions or concerns readers may have.

Q: What is the total amount of plant food used by Dell?

A: The total amount of plant food used by Dell is $$13 \frac{1}{3}$$ gallons.

Q: How did you calculate the total amount of plant food used?

A: We calculated the total amount of plant food used by multiplying the number of flowerbeds in each yard by the amount of plant food used per flowerbed. We then added the amounts used in each yard to arrive at the final answer.

Q: What is the amount of plant food used per flowerbed?

A: The amount of plant food used per flowerbed is $$2 \frac{2}{3}$$ gallons.

Q: How many flowerbeds does Dell tend to in each yard?

A: Dell tends to 3 flowerbeds in one yard and 2 flowerbeds in another yard.

Q: Can you explain the conversion from mixed numbers to improper fractions?

A: Yes, we can explain the conversion from mixed numbers to improper fractions. To convert a mixed number to an improper fraction, we multiply the whole number part by the denominator and add the numerator. We then write the result as a fraction with the denominator. For example, $$2 \frac{2}{3}$$ can be converted to an improper fraction as follows:

2 \frac{2}{3} = \frac{(2 \times 3) + 2}{3} = \frac{6 + 2}{3} = \frac{8}{3}

Q: Can you explain the conversion from improper fractions to mixed numbers?

A: Yes, we can explain the conversion from improper fractions to mixed numbers. To convert an improper fraction to a mixed number, we divide the numerator by the denominator and write the result as a mixed number. For example, $$\frac{16}{3}$$ can be converted to a mixed number as follows:

\frac{16}{3} = 5 \frac{1}{3}

Q: What is the significance of the total amount of plant food used?

A: The total amount of plant food used is significant because it represents the amount of plant food required to nourish the flowerbeds in both yards. This information can be useful for Dell in planning and budgeting for the plant food he needs to purchase.

In this Q&A article, we have provided further clarification on the solution to Dell's plant food conundrum. We have addressed questions and concerns readers may have had and provided additional explanations on the conversion from mixed numbers to improper fractions and vice versa. We hope this article has been helpful in providing a deeper understanding of the mathematical problem presented by Dell.