Question

a biologist studied how cells grow by adding liquid protein to cell samples. he reported in his study that he divided 15 1/5 ounces of liquid protein evenly between 2 cell samples. how much liquid protein did he give to each cell sample? write your answer as a fraction or as a whole or mixed number.

Explanation:

Step1: Convert the mixed - number to an improper fraction

$15\frac{1}{5}=\frac{15\times5 + 1}{5}=\frac{75+1}{5}=\frac{76}{5}$ ounces.

Step2: Divide the total amount of liquid protein by the number of cell samples

We are dividing $\frac{76}{5}$ ounces of liquid protein between 2 cell samples. So, $\frac{76}{5}\div2=\frac{76}{5}\times\frac{1}{2}$.

Step3: Perform the multiplication

$\frac{76}{5}\times\frac{1}{2}=\frac{76\times1}{5\times2}=\frac{76}{10}=\frac{38}{5}=7\frac{3}{5}$ ounces.

Answer:

$7\frac{3}{5}$ ounces