Hello,

I'm looking for guidance on how to solve these two problems below. I think they are proportion or ratio problems, but I am not sure.

1. If 6 pounds of meat feeds 3 people for 5 days, how much meat is required to feed 5 people for 7 days?

2. If a dress that is made out of 1.5 yards of fabric will shorten 2 inches because of the seam, how much would a dress made out of 1 yard of fabric shorten because of the seam?

I appreciate any help and direction on how to solve these and similar problems!

figure food at rate per person day.

amount of food=rate/person*persons*time
rate= 6/(3*5)
so amount of meat= (rate)people*time
= 6/15 * 5*7 = you do it.

2. ratio problem;
1.5yards/2inches=1yard/Xinches

xinches=1*2inches/1.5= 4/3 inch

6 lbs for 3 people for 5 days, then

2 lbs for 1 person for 5 days, or
2/5 lbs for 1 person for 1 day, or
2 lbs for 5 people for 1 day, or
14 lbs for 5 people for 7 days.

Hello! I can definitely help you solve these problems. Both of them involve proportions, so you are correct in your assumption.

Let's start with the first problem:

1. If 6 pounds of meat feeds 3 people for 5 days, how much meat is required to feed 5 people for 7 days?

To solve this problem, we can set up a proportion. A proportion is an equation that states that two ratios are equal.

Let's assign variables to the unknown values. Let M represent the amount of meat required.

We know that 6 pounds of meat feeds 3 people for 5 days. This can be written as the ratio 6 pounds / 3 people = M pounds / 5 days.

To find the value of M, we can cross-multiply and solve for M:

6 pounds * 5 days = 3 people * M pounds

30 = 3M

Divide both sides by 3:

30 / 3 = 3M / 3

10 = M

Therefore, 10 pounds of meat is required to feed 5 people for 7 days.

Now, let's move on to the second problem:

2. If a dress made from 1.5 yards of fabric shortens 2 inches because of the seam, how much would a dress made from 1 yard of fabric shorten because of the seam?

Again, we can set up a proportion to solve this problem.

Let's assign variables to the unknown values. Let S represent the amount the dress shortens.

We know that a dress made from 1.5 yards of fabric shortens 2 inches. This can be written as the ratio 1.5 yards / 2 inches = 1 yard / S inches.

To find the value of S, we can cross-multiply and solve for S:

1.5 yards * S inches = 1 yard * 2 inches

1.5S = 2

Divide both sides by 1.5:

1.5S / 1.5 = 2 / 1.5

S ≈ 1.33 inches

Therefore, a dress made from 1 yard of fabric would shorten approximately 1.33 inches because of the seam.

I hope this helps! Feel free to ask if you have any further questions or need additional explanation.