Liam has 8 3/4 gallons of paint. He wants to use 2/5 of the paint to paint his living room. How many gallons of paint will Liam use?
Multiply 8 3/4 x 2/5=70/20
70/20=3.5
Answer: Liam will use 3.5 gallons of paint
Is this correct?
4 answers
correct
Wow I did not feel I would be able to get the right answer. I am literally terrible at math and word problems. What is the best way to know in a word problem when you have to do multiplication or division or subtraction or addition? Please help me to understand.
it said "to use 2/5 of the paint"
the English word "of" usually indicates that you would be multiplying.
eg. give me 1/2 of $6.00
so
(1/2)(6.00) = $3.00
Very often, creating a simpler problem with easy numbers let's you get the answer by simple common sense.
Then ask yourself, "what operation did I use to get that common sense answer"
e.g. Bill has 20 cents more than Mary.
If Bill has 60 cents, then Mary must have 40 cents. (common sense answer)
What did I do to get 40 ?
60 - 20 = 40
the English word "of" usually indicates that you would be multiplying.
eg. give me 1/2 of $6.00
so
(1/2)(6.00) = $3.00
Very often, creating a simpler problem with easy numbers let's you get the answer by simple common sense.
Then ask yourself, "what operation did I use to get that common sense answer"
e.g. Bill has 20 cents more than Mary.
If Bill has 60 cents, then Mary must have 40 cents. (common sense answer)
What did I do to get 40 ?
60 - 20 = 40
So "of" indicates multiply
What would indicate division in a word problem?
What would indicate division in a word problem?
2 answers