You need 3 1/2 cups of flour for each batch of cupcakes. How many whole batches can make if you have 17 cups of flour? Show two ways.

ANSWER:4 batches of cupcakes can be made. SOLUTION: Given, we need [tex]3\frac{1}{2}[/tex] cups of flour for each batch of cupcakes. And we have 17 cups of flour. We need to find how many batches can be made. 1st way:We will get the number of batches when we divide the available cups with cups required for one batch. Available cups = 17 and required cups for one batch = [tex]3\frac{1}{2}[/tex] = [tex]\frac{7}{2}[/tex] cups number of batches = [tex]$\frac{17}{\frac{7}{2}}$[/tex][tex]$=\frac{17}{1} \times \frac{2}{7}$[/tex][tex]$=\frac{34}{7}$[/tex] = 4.857As the number of batches can’t be fraction, we will neglect the fractional part. 2nd way:Let the number of batches be x. Then, cups of flour required for batches must be less than available flour (x)([tex]\frac{7}{2}[/tex]) < 17 (x)(7) < (2)(17) 7x < 34 x < [tex]\frac{34}{7}[/tex]x < 4.857 As the number of batches must be an whole number, x becomes 4. Hence, 4 batches of cupcakes can be made.