a family uses 14 1/2 pounds of paper and recycles 1/3 how many pounds of paper does the family recycle
(1/3) * (29/2) = ?
To find out how many pounds of paper the family recycles, we need to multiply the total pounds of paper used by the fraction representing the amount recycled.
First, let's convert 14 1/2 pounds into an improper fraction. The whole number 14 can be written as 14/1, so we have (14/1) + 1/2. To add these fractions, we need to find a common denominator, which in this case is 2.
Converting the whole number into a fraction, we have (14/1) + (1/2) = (28/2) + (1/2) = (29/2).
Now, we can calculate the amount the family recycles by multiplying (29/2) with 1/3:
(29/2) * (1/3) = (29*1) / (2*3) = 29/6.
Therefore, the family recycles 29/6 pounds of paper.