To solve this problem, we start by recognizing the ratio of flour to water given in the recipe. The recipe states that for every 3 cups of flour, you need 3.5 cups of water (3 1/2 cups equals 3.5 cups).
To determine how much water is needed for 8 cups of flour, we can first find the ratio of water to flour based on the original amounts.
Here’s the setup in the table format:
| Cups of Flour | Cups of Water | |---------------|---------------| | 3 | 3.5 | | 8 | ? |
Next, we can set up a proportion based on the established ratio:
\[ \frac{Cups\ of\ Water}{Cups\ of\ Flour} = \frac{3.5}{3} \]
Substituting the known values, we set it up like this:
\[ \frac{x}{8} = \frac{3.5}{3} \]
Now, we can solve for \(x\) (the cups of water needed for 8 cups of flour):
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Cross-multiply: \[ x \cdot 3 = 3.5 \cdot 8 \] \[ 3x = 28 \]
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Divide both sides by 3: \[ x = \frac{28}{3} \]
Calculating this gives: \[ x \approx 9.33 \]
So, for 8 cups of flour, you will need approximately \(9.33\) cups of water, or \(9 \frac{1}{3}\) cups if you want to express it as a mixed number.
Now, we can fill in the table:
| Cups of Flour | Cups of Water | |---------------|---------------| | 3 | 3.5 | | 8 | 9.33 |
Final Answer: You will need approximately 9.33 cups of water for 8 cups of flour.