Sure! Here are several applications of multiplying rational numbers, along with practice problems for each application. You can also find examples to help guide your understanding.
Applications of Multiplying Rational Numbers
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Finance/Budgeting:
- Application: Calculating discounts or taxes.
- Example Problem: A sweater is regularly priced at $50. If there’s a 20% discount, what is the sale price?
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Cooking and Recipes:
- Application: Adjusting ingredient quantities based on serving size.
- Example Problem: A recipe calls for 2/3 cup of sugar. If you want to make only 3/4 of the recipe, how much sugar do you need?
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Measurement/Area:
- Application: Finding the area of rectangles or other geometric shapes.
- Example Problem: A rectangle has a length of 1.5 meters and a width of 2/3 meters. What is the area of the rectangle?
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Speed/Rate Problems:
- Application: Calculating distance or time based on rates.
- Example Problem: A car travels at a speed of 60 miles per hour for 1/4 of an hour. How far does it travel?
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Scaling:
- Application: When resizing objects (e.g., scale models).
- Example Problem: If a model of a car is built at 1/10 the actual size and the actual car is 15 feet long, how long is the model in feet?
Practice Problems
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Finance/Budgeting:
- A laptop costs $800, and there’s a 15% off sale. What is the price after the discount?
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Cooking and Recipes:
- A smoothie recipe needs 1/2 cup of yogurt. If you are making 2/5 of the recipe, how much yogurt do you need?
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Measurement/Area:
- A rectangular garden measures 4.5 meters by 7/8 meters. What is the area of the garden in square meters?
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Speed/Rate Problems:
- A cyclist is riding at a speed of 15 miles per hour for 1/3 of an hour. How far does the cyclist travel?
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Scaling:
- A blueprint of a room is drawn at a scale of 1/20. If the length of the room in the blueprint is 3 inches, what is the actual length of the room in feet?
Answers to Practice Problems
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Finance/Budgeting:
- Discount = 800 × 0.15 = $120.
- Sale Price = 800 - 120 = $680.
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Cooking and Recipes:
- Amount of yogurt = (1/2) × (2/5) = 2/10 = 1/5 cup.
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Measurement/Area:
- Area = 4.5 × (7/8) = 4.5 × 0.875 = 3.9375 square meters.
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Speed/Rate Problems:
- Distance = speed × time = 15 × (1/3) = 5 miles.
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Scaling:
- Actual Length = 3 × 20 inches = 60 inches = 5 feet.
Feel free to explore more complex problems or applications if desired!