Question

A company bought a total of 4 1/2 feet of cable to connect 3 computers to the wall outlet. Each computer needs the same amount of cable.

How many feet of cable are needed to connect each computer?

Express your answer in simplest form.

Responses

1/3ft
1 third ft

1 1/3ft
1 and 1 third ft

1 1/2ft
1 and 1 half ft

1/2ft

Answer 1

To find out how much cable is needed for each computer, we start by converting the total amount of cable from a mixed number to an improper fraction.

4 1/2 feet can be converted as follows:

- The whole number 4 is converted to the fraction: \(4 = \frac{4 \times 2}{2} = \frac{8}{2}\)
- Thus, \(4 1/2 = \frac{8}{2} + \frac{1}{2} = \frac{9}{2}\) feet of cable.

Now, we need to divide this total amount of cable by the number of computers, which is 3:

\[
\text{Cable per computer} = \frac{9/2}{3} = \frac{9}{2} \times \frac{1}{3} = \frac{9}{6}
\]

Now, simplify \(\frac{9}{6}\):

\[
\frac{9}{6} = \frac{3}{2} = 1 \frac{1}{2} \text{ feet}
\]

So, each computer needs **1 1/2 feet** of cable.

The correct response is:
1 1/2ft
1 and 1 half ft