Question

Inspired by a video, Brooke decided to try a Filipino chicken recipe. The recipe requires 2 1/2
pounds of chicken. Brooke bought 5 3/4
pounds of chicken. How many pounds of chicken remain unused, what operation would you use

Answer 1

To find out how many pounds of chicken remain unused, you need to subtract the amount of chicken required for the recipe from the amount Brooke bought.

1. Amount of chicken Brooke bought: 5 3/4 pounds
2. Amount of chicken needed for the recipe: 2 1/2 pounds

You would perform the following operation:
\[
5 \frac{3}{4} - 2 \frac{1}{2}
\]

First, convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions:

- **For 5 3/4**:
\[
5 \frac{3}{4} = (5 \times 4 + 3) / 4 = (20 + 3) / 4 = 23/4
\]

- **For 2 1/2**:
\[
2 \frac{1}{2} = (2 \times 2 + 1) / 2 = (4 + 1) / 2 = 5/2
\]

Now, to perform the subtraction:
Convert \(5/2\) to have a common denominator with \(23/4\):
\[
5/2 = (5 \times 2)/(2 \times 2) = 10/4
\]

Now you can subtract:
\[
23/4 - 10/4 = (23 - 10)/4 = 13/4
\]

Finally, convert \(13/4\) back to a mixed number:
\[
13/4 = 3 \frac{1}{4}
\]

So, the amount of chicken that remains unused is **3 1/4 pounds**.