Identifying the Given Information

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 14 views

Understanding the Problem

Sam's car uses a significant amount of gasoline for a round trip to work and back home. To determine how many complete trips Sam can make in his car on a certain amount of gasoline, we need to understand the relationship between the amount of gasoline used per trip and the total amount of gasoline available.

Identifying the Given Information

The amount of gasoline used per trip is $$2 \frac{1}{3}$$ gallons.
The total amount of gasoline available is $$9 \frac{2}{3}$$ gallons.

Converting Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions

To make calculations easier, we need to convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions.

$2 \frac{1}{3}$$ can be converted to an improper fraction as follows:$

2 \frac{1}{3} = \frac{(2 \times 3) + 1}{3} = \frac{6 + 1}{3} = \frac{7}{3}

$9 \frac{2}{3}$$ can be converted to an improper fraction as follows:$

9 \frac{2}{3} = \frac{(9 \times 3) + 2}{3} = \frac{27 + 2}{3} = \frac{29}{3}

Calculating the Number of Trips

Now that we have the amount of gasoline used per trip and the total amount of gasoline available in improper fractions, we can calculate the number of trips Sam can make.

The number of trips can be calculated by dividing the total amount of gasoline available by the amount of gasoline used per trip.

\text{Number of trips} = \frac{\text{Total amount of gasoline available}}{\text{Amount of gasoline used per trip}}

\text{Number of trips} = \frac{\frac{29}{3}}{\frac{7}{3}}

\text{Number of trips} = \frac{29}{3} \times \frac{3}{7}

\text{Number of trips} = \frac{29}{7}

Simplifying the Fraction

To simplify the fraction, we need to find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the numerator and the denominator.

The GCD of 29 and 7 is 1, so the fraction cannot be simplified further.

Converting the Fraction to a Mixed Number

To convert the fraction to a mixed number, we need to divide the numerator by the denominator.

\frac{29}{7} = 4 \frac{1}{7}

Conclusion

Sam can make $$4 \frac{1}{7}$$ complete trips to work and back home with $$9 \frac{2}{3}$$ gallons of gasoline.

Real-World Applications

This problem has real-world applications in various fields, such as:

Transportation: Understanding the amount of gasoline used per trip and the total amount of gasoline available is crucial for planning road trips, calculating fuel costs, and determining the feasibility of a trip.
Business: Companies that rely on transportation, such as logistics and delivery services, need to calculate the number of trips their vehicles can make to optimize routes and reduce fuel costs.
Personal Finance: Individuals who own vehicles need to calculate the number of trips they can make to determine their fuel costs and plan their expenses accordingly.

Tips and Variations

Using Different Units: The problem can be solved using different units, such as kilometers per liter or miles per gallon.
Variable Fuel Efficiency: The problem can be modified to include variable fuel efficiency, where the amount of gasoline used per trip changes depending on the speed, terrain, and other factors.
Multiple Destinations: The problem can be extended to include multiple destinations, where the number of trips to each destination is calculated separately.

Practice Problems

Problem 1: A car uses $$3 \frac{1}{2}$$ gallons of gasoline per trip. How many complete trips can be made with $$10 \frac{1}{4}$$ gallons of gasoline?
Problem 2: A truck uses $$5 \frac{3}{4}$$ gallons of gasoline per trip. How many complete trips can be made with $$15 \frac{1}{2}$$ gallons of gasoline?

Solutions

Problem 1: $$\frac{10 \frac{1}{4}}{3 \frac{1}{2}} = \frac{\frac{41}{4}}{\frac{7}{2}} = \frac{41}{4} \times \frac{2}{7} = \frac{41}{14} = 2 \frac{13}{14}$$
Problem 2: $$\frac{15 \frac{1}{2}}{5 \frac{3}{4}} = \frac{\frac{31}{2}}{\frac{23}{4}} = \frac{31}{2} \times \frac{4}{23} = \frac{31}{23} = 1 \frac{8}{23}$$

Q: What is the formula for calculating the number of trips?

A: The formula for calculating the number of trips is:

\text{Number of trips} = \frac{\text{Total amount of gasoline available}}{\text{Amount of gasoline used per trip}}

Q: How do I convert mixed numbers to improper fractions?

A: To convert a mixed number to an improper fraction, follow these steps:

Multiply the whole number part by the denominator.
Add the product to the numerator.
Write the result as the new numerator over the denominator.

For example, to convert $$2 \frac{1}{3}$$ to an improper fraction:

Multiply 2 by 3: 2 × 3 = 6
Add 6 to 1: 6 + 1 = 7
Write the result as the new numerator over the denominator: $$\frac{7}{3}$$

Q: How do I simplify a fraction?

A: To simplify a fraction, find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the numerator and the denominator. If the GCD is greater than 1, divide both the numerator and the denominator by the GCD to simplify the fraction.

For example, to simplify $$\frac{12}{18}$$:

Find the GCD of 12 and 18: GCD(12, 18) = 6
Divide both the numerator and the denominator by 6: $$\frac{12}{18} = \frac{2}{3}$$

Q: How do I convert a fraction to a mixed number?

A: To convert a fraction to a mixed number, divide the numerator by the denominator. The quotient will be the whole number part, and the remainder will be the new numerator.

For example, to convert $$\frac{17}{4}$$ to a mixed number:

Divide 17 by 4: 17 ÷ 4 = 4 with a remainder of 1
Write the result as a mixed number: $$4 \frac{1}{4}$$

Q: What are some real-world applications of calculating the number of trips?

A: Calculating the number of trips has real-world applications in various fields, such as:

Transportation: Understanding the amount of gasoline used per trip and the total amount of gasoline available is crucial for planning road trips, calculating fuel costs, and determining the feasibility of a trip.
Business: Companies that rely on transportation, such as logistics and delivery services, need to calculate the number of trips their vehicles can make to optimize routes and reduce fuel costs.
Personal Finance: Individuals who own vehicles need to calculate the number of trips they can make to determine their fuel costs and plan their expenses accordingly.

Q: What are some tips for calculating the number of trips?

A: Here are some tips for calculating the number of trips:

Use the correct units: Make sure to use the correct units for the amount of gasoline used per trip and the total amount of gasoline available.
Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions: Converting mixed numbers to improper fractions can make calculations easier.
Simplify fractions: Simplifying fractions can make calculations easier and reduce errors.
Use a calculator: If you're unsure about the calculations, use a calculator to double-check your work.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when calculating the number of trips?

A: Here are some common mistakes to avoid when calculating the number of trips:

Using the wrong units: Make sure to use the correct units for the amount of gasoline used per trip and the total amount of gasoline available.
Not converting mixed numbers to improper fractions: Failing to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions can lead to errors in calculations.
Not simplifying fractions: Failing to simplify fractions can lead to errors in calculations and make it difficult to determine the number of trips.
Not using a calculator: Failing to use a calculator can lead to errors in calculations and make it difficult to determine the number of trips.

Q: How can I practice calculating the number of trips?

A: Here are some ways to practice calculating the number of trips:

Use online calculators: Use online calculators to practice calculating the number of trips.
Work with real-world examples: Use real-world examples to practice calculating the number of trips.
Create your own problems: Create your own problems to practice calculating the number of trips.
Join a study group: Join a study group to practice calculating the number of trips with others.

Q: What are some resources for learning more about calculating the number of trips?

A: Here are some resources for learning more about calculating the number of trips:

Online tutorials: Online tutorials can provide step-by-step instructions and examples for calculating the number of trips.
Textbooks: Textbooks can provide in-depth explanations and examples for calculating the number of trips.
Online forums: Online forums can provide a community of learners who can ask questions and share resources for calculating the number of trips.
Professional development courses: Professional development courses can provide in-depth training and certification for calculating the number of trips.